FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2008

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

Mrs. Laura Bush Honors Arts and Education Programs for Underserved Youth

Deadline for 2008 Coming Up Taller Awards: January 31, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC—Young people from communities across the U.S., China, and Mexico who engage in after-school arts and humanities programs that promote educational achievement and productive lives were honored by Mrs. Laura Bush at a ceremony for the 2007 Coming Up Taller Awards in Washington, D.C. The ceremony took place in the East Room of the White House on Monday, January 28.

Coming Up Taller is an initiative of the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

“Coming Up Taller programs engage youth in creative activities that positively affect all other aspects of their lives. After participating in these outstanding programs, many of these children go on to college and to the bright future we want for all our children. I am especially gratified that outstanding programs from China and Mexico have been selected for the award,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of IMLS. “Mrs. Bush’s leadership in honoring these arts and humanities programs is invaluable and challenges us to do more for our youth.”

The Coming Up Taller Awards recognize and support outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America’s young people, and provide them with new learning opportunities and the chance to contribute to their communities. The awards also highlight the contributions that historians, scholars, librarians, and visual and performing artists make to families and communities by mentoring children. More than 350 nominations were received by the program in 2007. Click here to see the list of 2007 winners.

The next deadline for Coming Up Taller Awards is January 31, 2008.

Recipients of a Coming Up Taller award receive $10,000 at a special ceremony in Washington, DC, an individualized plaque, and an expense-paid invitation to attend the annual Coming Up Taller Leadership Enhancement Conference. Click here for the nomination guidelines and application (PDF, 227KB).

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

About the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
The President of the United States recognizes that the Nation’s cultural life contributes to the vibrancy of society and the strength of democracy. The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities helps to incorporate the arts and humanities into White House objectives. The Committee bridges federal agencies and the private sector. It recognizes cultural excellence, engages in research, initiates special projects, and stimulates private funding. Areas of current focus include programs in youth arts and humanities learning; preservation and conservation; special events; and expansion of international cultural relations. For more information, please visit www.pcah.gov.