Rhinebeck Writers Retreat To Receive $10,000 Grant From NEA

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 $10,000 to Rhinebeck Writers Retreat for their musical theatre writer residencies and Triple R program - 2 readings and a residency. 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 Rhinebeck Writers Retreat 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."

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's Founding Executive Director Kathy Evans added, "We are honored to receive this award from a panel of our peers in musical theatre. We are dedicated to serving musical theatre writers in the creation of this uniquely American art form, and we are accepting applications now from all musical theatre writers for our weeklong residencies for summer 2018. All information, guidelines, and online applications can be found at www.rhinebeckwriters.org"

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

Since 2011, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat has provided a sanctuary for writers to develop their new musicals in the heart of the Hudson Valley. Musicals developed in Rhinebeck have been seen at The Public Theater's Shakespeare in The Park, Barrington Stage, Second Stage Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, The Old Globe, and The O'Neill. All costs for the retreats are covered by contributions, including major support from the NEA, New York State Council on the Arts, The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund; The Frederick Loewe Foundation, The Noël Coward Foundation, Liz Armstrong; Cathy Cabrera; Rick Farrar and Jeff Zadroga; Amy and Roger Faxon; Steve Reynolds; Peter Risafi and Steven Wheeler; Jacqui and Lew Rose; and Alec Stais and Elissa Burke. www.rhinebeckwriters.org.