Congressman Chaka Fattah Announces Over $400,000 in Grants for the Arts in Philadelphia

WASHINGTON, Dec.10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ Congressman Chaka Fattah (PA-02) , a ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee announced today that 16 Philadelphia arts organizations have been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Together the grants total $405,000 for the Philadelphia arts community.

"The Philadelphia community is flush with wonderful arts and cultural organizations, both new and old, and it's a testament to the creative professionals in our community that the NEA is supporting so many of these institutions," Congressman Fattah said. "Investing in the arts provides both an economic and social value to our community, improves our quality of life, and provides continuous inspiration and engagement. Our city prides itself on a diverse, dynamic, and thriving art scene, and I look forward to continued advocacy on behalf of the Philadelphia arts."

The organizations receiving grants are:

• American Poetry Review- $15,000
  To support the publication, promotion, and distribution of "The American Poetry Review," including a full website upgrade and redesign.
• Astral Artistic Services- $15,000
  To support Around the World in 80 Minutes.
• Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra - $10,000
  To support City Wide Side-by-Side.
• Dolce Suono Chamber Music Concert Series-$10,000
  To support Musica en tus Manos (Music in Your Hands), a series of commissions and premieres with a focus on the Latino community performed by the Dolce Suono Ensemble with related educational activities.
• InterAct, Inc.-$10,000
  To support the premiere of "The Urban Retreat" by A. Zell Williams.
• Marlboro School of Music, Inc.-$32,500
  To support the Invited Master Artist Project.
• Network for New Music, Inc.-$10,000
  To support The Harbison Project: Philadelphia Connections, a commissioning and performance project of a new work by composer John Harbison, with additional works by Uri Caine, James Primosch, Terrell Stafford, Anna Weesner, and Bobby Zankel.
• Opera Company of Philadelphia - $50,000
  To support performances of "Ainadamar," by composer Osvaldo Golijov and librettist David Henry Hwang and related outreach activities.
• Pennsylvania Ballet Association-$35,000
  To support the presentation of choreographer Jiri Kylian's "Petite Mort."
• Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership -$25,000
  To support SmART Readers: An After School Arts and Literacy Program in Libraries.
• Philadelphia Chamber Music Society -$12,500
  To support the Vocal Music Project.
• Philadelphia Dance Company -$50,000
  To support the re-construction and presentation of choreographer Ulysses Dove's "Bad Blood."
• Philadelphia Fringe Festival - $20,000
  To support the presentation of multidisciplinary works.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art- $75,000
  To support the exhibition "Inventing American Still Life, 1800-1950."
• PlayPenn, Inc.- $10,000
  To support the New Play Development Conference.
• Scribe Video Center, Inc.- $25,000
  To support workshops, master classes, programs for youth, and film and video screenings.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah