Arizona Opera Receives NEA Grant

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Jane Chu announced today that Arizona Opera is one of 919 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. Arizona Opera is recommended for a $20,000 grant to support its new production of Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin to premiere in Tucson on January 31, 2015. The new, flexible production created by Arizona Opera artistic team will be part of Arizona Opera's inventory of set rentals, as no affordable production was previously available for companies of similar budget size to rent. Eugene Onegin is part of the Arizona Opera's Arizona Bold Artistic Initiative, designed to offer productions that appeal to a wider variety of constituents.

NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, "I'm pleased to be able to share the news of our support through Art Works including the award to Arizona Opera. The arts foster value, connection, creativity and innovation for the American people and these recommended grants demonstrate those attributes and affirm that the arts are part of our everyday lives."

"Receiving a grant from the NEA for Arizona Bold is a great honor and an incredible endorsement for the new initiatives we are embarking on. Eugene Onegin is a magnificent piece, and one that is not often seen. Since Arizona has a relatively large Russian and Slavic population we knew it needed to be part of our season. This generous gift not only enables us to present Tchaikovsky's work to the communities we serve, but also gives opera companies across the country the opportunity to present this new production in their own cities." - Ryan Taylor, General Director, Arizona Opera

Art Works grants support the creation of art, public engagement with art, lifelong learning in the arts, and enhancement of the livability of communities through the arts. The NEA received 1,474 eligible applications under the Art Works category, requesting more than $75 million in funding. Of those applications, 919 are recommended for grants for a total of $26.6 million. For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.

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