Arts Midwest Grant Brings Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble To Whiting 11/2-6

The Whiting, a member organization of The Flint Cultural Center Corporation (FCCC), has received a $5,000 grant award from the Arts Midwest Performing Arts Fund that will help to bring the renowned Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble to Flint for a five-day residency November 2 - 6, 2009.

The Performing Arts Fund supports the touring of professional performing artists specializing in the fine arts of dance, theater, music, and family entertainment throughout Arts Midwest's nine-state region. These engagements include public performances and in-depth educational activities reaching audiences that lack access to the performing arts.

The Kevin Locke Dance Ensemble offers a rich variety of American Indian traditions in dance, instrumentals, song, storytelling and sign language. Kevin Locke, a National Heritage Fellowship award winner, is a foremost expert in Native American hoop dancing and flute. His ensemble will provide educational workshops in area schools and other community locations November 2 - 5 followed by a public performance at The Whiting on November 6.

"We are thrilled to have the Kevin Locke Dance Ensemble come to our community," said Whiting Director Michael Terry, "and we are very grateful to Arts Midwest for its support." Arts Midwest Executive Director David J. Fraher said, "Arts Midwest is proud to support The Whiting and the Flint Cultural Center Corporation in their upcoming presentation of the Kevin Locke Dance Ensemble. In these economically trying times, arts events like this not only provide uplifting experiences for audiences, they also create meaningful jobs for those employed in the arts industry - thus amplifying the effectiveness of our funding."

The Flint Cultural Center Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering cultural activity and community vitality through history, science and the arts. The FCCC operates and governs its member organizations: The Whiting, Longway Planetarium and Sloan Museum in addition to maintaining the buildings and grounds and coordinates campus-wide activities, programs and events. Its vision is to position the Flint Cultural Center as the premier regional destination, educational resource, and entertainment venue for history, science and the arts.

The Arts Midwest Performing Arts Fund is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes a great nation deserves great art, with additional contributions from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, General Mills Foundation, and Land O'Lakes Foundation. Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest connects people throughout the Midwest and the world to meaningful arts opportunities, sharing creativity, knowledge, and understanding across boundaries. A nonprofit regional arts organization headquartered in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest serves audiences, arts organizations, and artists throughout the nine states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and beyond. One of six nonprofit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest's history spans more than 25 years. The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, both new and established; bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts, bringing great art to all 50 states, including rural areas, inner cities, and military bases.

The Whiting is a member organization of the Flint Cultural Center Corporation and is dedicated to bringing the performing arts to the community. The Whiting is a nonprofit organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer providing programs and services without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex or handicap.

 

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