May 07, 2015

Manchin and Capito Announce More Than $700,000 for Community Art Programs Across West Virginia

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) announced a total of $703,600 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to West Virginia nonprofit and art organizations. The funding will be used to preserve the Mountain State’s cultural heritage and expand opportunities for residents and to experience and participate in the arts.

“Our rich, cultural heritage is an important part of who we are as West Virginians, and the resources provided by NEA allow us to better experience and share our unique Appalachian history and traditions,” Senator Manchin said. “Most importantly, this funding will help introduce traditional music and the arts into the lives of our kids, giving them a chance to express themselves in different ways while paving a clearer path to future success.”

“West Virginia is a state rich with creative spirit and proud traditions. These funds will help strengthen and nurture the arts in West Virginia and contribute to the cultural, educational and economic development of our state,” said Senator Capito.

Established in 1965, NEA has funded programs that support arts education, sustains and celebrates our nation’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and promotes equal access to the arts in every community across America. For Fiscal Year 2015, NEA will make 1,023 awards totaling $74,326,900 to nonprofit art and design organizations in all 50 states plus five U.S. jurisdictions.

Individual awards and details are listed below:

$638,600 – West Virginia Division of Culture and History: Funding will be awarded to the Commission on the Arts (WVCA) to support programs and events that promote creative expression and art appreciation for the benefit of West Virginia citizens and visitors.

$35,000 – West Virginia Humanities Council, Charleston: Funding will be used to support a state folklorist who will promote and revitalize West Virginia's long history of folk culture and practice of folklore. The folklorist will administer programs that support folk and traditional arts in the state, conduct a field survey reviewing and documenting current folk and cultural activities, expand opportunities for folk artists through consultations and assistance to folk projects, and develop a comprehensive plan for revitalizing an ongoing state program.

$10,000 – Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia, Charleston: Funding will be used to support an exhibition and public engagement program featuring muralist and sculptor Mark Licari. Licari will also create a site-specific work at the Clay Center and participate in public outreach activities, including a lecture and participatory workshop.

 $10,000 – Allegheny Echoes, Marlinton: Funding will be used to support a week-long summer workshops for students in traditional Appalachian music and creative writing. The program will match students with accomplished artists for instruction in traditional instrumental techniques for the banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and bass fiddle. Classes in vocal music or creative writing also will be offered.

$10,000 – Wheeling Symphony Society, Wheeling: Funding will be used to support a regional performance tour with related educational outreach programs. The orchestra will present a Young People's Concert program in town venues in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. In collaboration with the Magic Circle Mime Company, programming will feature an innovative program that allows listeners to explore music visually through mime artistry. The project will include teacher workshops and pre-concert instruction for children in elementary schools.

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