The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently announced its second round of funding for fiscal year 2009 in the categories of Access to Artistic Excellence, Learning in the Arts, Arts on Radio and Television, American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius, and Partnership Agreements (State and Regional).
Access to Artistic Excellence grants - the category in which Lutheran Music Program received its award - support the creation and presentation of work in the disciplines of dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, media arts, museums, music, musical theater, opera, presenting, theater, and visual arts. Projects include commissions, residencies, workshops, performances, exhibitions, publications, festivals, and professional development programs.
Lutheran Music Program received funding in the Music category to underwrite the 50-plus concerts and recitals offered free and open to the public at the 2009 Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival, taking place at Luther College in Decorah, June 21 to July 19. The award acknowledges the exceptional quality of LSM faculty artist performances; LSM students' achievement and musical excellence; the organization's demonstrated ability to carry out the project; and the outstanding service and accessibility to audiences.
Acting NEA Chairman Patrice Walker Powell said, "I am happy to announce the more than 1,000 arts projects that will receive NEA support. These grants are a direct--and catalytic--investment in our nation's nonprofit cultural industry and will benefit Americans in all 50 states and 6 jurisdictional areas." In this round of funding, the Arts Endowment will distribute $83,472,100 to support 1,075 projects by nonprofit national, regional, state, and local organizations nationwide.
For more information on Lutheran Music Program and the 2009 Lutheran Summer Music Academy & Festival visit www.lutheransummermusic.org or contact the organization's national offices in Minneapolis at 888.635.6583 or by email at lsm@lutheransummermusic.org.
