NEA Supports American Theatre Wing's SpringboardNYC Program and Docuseries

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects across the country in NEA's second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2017. Included in this announcement are two Art Works awards to the American Theatre Wing: $35,000 to fund SpringboardNYC and the Theatre Intern Network (through the NEA's Theater and Musical Theater discipline), and $25,000 for production of the "Working in the Theatre" docuseries (through the NEA's Media Arts discipline). The NEA received 1,728 Art Works applications and will make 1,029 grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.

"The arts reflect the vision, energy, and talent of America's artists and arts organizations," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. "The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support organizations such as the American Theatre Wing, in serving their communities by providing excellent and accessible arts experiences."

"Since its founding, the National Endowment for the Arts has been integral to the development of all forms of art across this country," said Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing. "The work that we do at the Wing, especially in the programs that were designaTed Grants, helps to make theatre accessible to everyone across the country no matter their background. This is vital to the cultural fabric of our nation."

SpringboardNYC brings college actors into the epicenter of American theatre-New York City-in an intensive program that gives young talent the knowledge, tools and connections necessary to become part of New York's vital theatre culture. An in-depth program happening in parallel to the Tony Awards, Springboard is taught by renowned members of the contemporary theatre. The Springboard curriculum includes workshops, seminars, master classes, and access to important work on Broadway and off. Springboard connects students to inside knowledge and industry players, creating major opportunities for young actors that put them at a professional advantage. Springboard forges connections between fellow actors at start of their career, building a community of contemporaries for those new to New York and theatre's professional realm. Here, students create their own community and theatre network built on the friendships they make. The program serves as most young actors first direct contact with The Wing, initiating a lifetime connection to the organization and its extensive support.

Theatre Intern Network provides developing theatre professionals advanced education, networking opportunities, and tools for career advancement within a supportive creative community. New York City is full of theatre professionals, each with their own vision for creating or supporting important work. Theatre Intern Network (TIN) connects students, interns and young professionals to senior players, theatre companies, and prestigious organizations in New York. Our network provides exclusive events, seminars, panels, and networking opportunities, fostering a community with regular meetups for building relationships with peers and professionals.

"Working in the Theatre" is The Wing's Emmy Nominated documentary series produced to entertain audiences by revealing theatre's inner-workings, profiling industry luminaries, and taking a closer look at unique stories that surround important work. Conversations, narratives, technique, and history are documented on film to excite and inform audiences about theatre, sharing and preserving knowledge of the theatre industry. Spanning four decades of programming and featuring extraordinary work across the nation, "Working in the Theatre" is the most comprehensive theatre series to date.

To join the Twitter conversation about this announcement, please use #NEASpring17. For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, go to arts.gov.

One hundred years ago, on the eve of America's entry into World War I, seven suffragettes-all women of the theatre-came together to form The Stage Women's War Relief. A century later, the spirit and vision behind the founding of American Theatre Wing remains a touchstone for all we do. The Wing continues to champion bravery, with a focus on developing the next generation of brave artists. The Wing advances the future of American Theatre by celebrating excellence and nurturing the next generation: on stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience. We envision an American Theatre that is as vital, multi-faceted, and diverse as the American people.

The Wing's programs span the nation to invest in the growth and evolution of American Theatre. We provide theatre education opportunities for underserved students through the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative, develop the next generation of theatre professionals through the SpringboardNYC and Theatre Intern Network programs, incubate innovative theatre across the country through the National Theatre Company Grants, foster the song of American Theatre through the Jonathan Larson Grants, honor the best in New York theatrical design with the Henry Hewes Design Award, and illuminate the creative process through the Emmy-nominated "Working in the Theatre" documentary series. In addition to founding the Tony Awards which are co-presented with The Broadway League, the American Theatre Wing co-presents the Obie Awards, Off Broadway's Highest Honor, with The Village Voice.

Visitors to AmericanTheatreWing.org can gain inspiration and insight into the artistic process through the Wing's extensive media collection, and learn more about its programming for students, aspiring and working professionals, and audiences. Follow the Wing on Twitter and Instagram @TheWing, and on Facebook.com/TheAmericanTheatreWing.