Arizona Theatre Company Receives $25k Grant From NEA

Arizona Theatre Company has received a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, thanks to the National Endowment for the Arts 2011 Access to Artistic Excellence Award. This grant supports ATC's Theatre Education Residency program allowing the company to continue and expand its education programs throughout the state of Arizona.

The Award enables Arizona Theatre Company to collaborate with Santa Cruz County Young Audiences, a not-for-profit arts-for-learning organization. ATC will develop and present twenty theatre-arts workshops in Santa Cruz and Cochise County Schools plus offer discounted admission with free transportation to young people and adults from rural Arizona communities near the US-Mexico border to ATC's theatre in Tucson for six performances.

Associate Artistic Director Stephen Wrentmore, who leads ATC's education programs, said, "We are delighted that the NEA is supporting our ongoing efforts to work with young people and schools across Arizona. This grant will help us grow our relationships with Santa Cruz and Cochise County, developing audiences for our Student Matinee Program and supporting multiple workshops in schools across the community. Delivered by our expert education team, the work we do has huge impact in nurturing a sense of confidence and cultural literacy. We are thrilled that this has been recognized by the NEA."

For more information about Arizona Theatre Company, including the upcoming award-winning 2011-2012 season, visit www.arizonatheatre.org.

For more information about the National Endowment for the Arts, visit www.nea.gov.