February 08, 2018

DANCECleveland to Receive $25,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

DANCECleveland to Receive $25,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

CLEVELAND (February 7, 2018)-National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA's first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $25,000 to DANCECleveland for their 2018 performance series as well as education programs and outreach for the community. The Art Works category is the NEA's largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts.

"It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one to DANCECleveland, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed, and increase the quality of our lives," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities and connections the arts bring."

The 2018 performances will be surrounded by educational programs, residency activities and audience engagement initiatives that will enhance the offerings that the audience can enjoy. All performances will be accompanies by free master classes for local dancers, pre-performance lectures and post-performance Q & A sessions, program notes and more. In addition DANCECleveland will continue its Read to LearnDance To Move program. This program is designed to invoke a love for movement and literacy and will be conducted within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The program which is taught by professional dancers in the Cleveland area provides a book for every child to take home and is designed for preschool aged children.

"It is an honor for DANCECleveland's programming to be recognized among the highest caliber organizations from across the country," said DANCECleveland Board President Emily Huggins Jones. "Receiving funding from the NEA tells us we are helping to set the national standard of excellence as we continue to expand our educational and engagement opportunities surrounding our performances."

For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

For more information about DANCECleveland, visit www.dancecleveland.org.

DANCECleveland, a Cleveland, Ohio based non-profit, is one of a handful of presenters in the nation that is dedicated solely to the presentation of modern and contemporary dance. The centerpiece of the organization's programming is its annual performance series. The performances are surrounded by an array of educational outreach events including artist-run master classes, residency programs, student matinees, pre-performance lectures and post-performance Q&A sessions, designed both to break artistic boundaries and provide community access to the dance aesthetic and dance luminaries that DANCECleveland brings to OH.

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