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U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey hosts NEA Chairman Dana Gioia for Grants Workshop
Hinchey and Gioia Tour Hudson Valley Arts Organizations October 23, 2006 Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representative Maurice Hinchey of New York's 22nd District today hosted a special grants workshop conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for local nonprofit community arts organizations. The workshop was part of the agency's outreach to New York arts organizations. At a press conference before the workshop, NEA Chairman Dana Gioia explained the purpose of the workshop: "The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to supporting the arts in communities throughout the country," said Chairman Gioia. "I am delighted to be here in the Hudson Valley today to encourage local arts organizations to apply for federal grants." Rep. Hinchey also announced that a local arts organization has been awarded a grant by the Arts Endowment. The Dutchess County Arts Council was awarded a Fiscal Year 2007 NEA Challenge America grant of $10,000 to support the creation and installation of the Dutchess County Artistic Map, a public art piece that is part of a larger project to revitalize the Poughkeepsie Train Station. One visual artist will be chosen out of six finalists to create this piece that will be either a traditional map or a creative re-imagining of the idea of a map. "The Hudson Valley has a deep, rich heritage in the arts and I am delighted that NEA Chairman Gioia has taken the time to come tour the region with me and get a firsthand look at this great artistic tradition," Rep. Hinchey said. "I am also pleased to announce a new federal grant from the NEA for the Dutchess County Arts Council, which will provide the resources for another great artistic contribution to our community. From music to paintings and everything else in between, art in the Hudson Valley plays a critical role in our culture, and by attracting tourists and art lovers it also is a significant part of our economy. By continuing to invest in art through NEA grants and other sources, we are helping to further strengthen the Hudson Valley's economy and heritage." The press conference and grants workshop were held at the Cunneen-Hackett Arts Center. Robert Frankel, NEA Director of Museums and Visual Arts, led the free session, which included a discussion of federal opportunities for projects that:
Following the press conference, Rep. Hinchey and Chairman Gioia visited Kingston High School, where they heard a performance by the School's Jazz Ensemble and a Shakespeare recitation by a student. They also toured the Dorsky Museum of Art in New Paltz, the Women's Studio Workshop in Rosendale, the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Arts & Crafts Colony, the Center for Photography in Woodstock, and the Woodstock Artists' Association & Museum. Both the Women's Studio Workshop and the Center for Photography at Woodstock have received FY 2006 grants from the NEA. Monday evening, Rep. Hinchey and Chairman Gioia will speak at a forum on the role of arts in community renewal and economic development. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Woodstock Artists' Association & Museum, the forum will discuss the growing role of the arts in revitalizing Ulster County communities and growing local economies. 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. For more information, visit the NEA Web site at www.arts.gov.
National Endowment for the Arts · an independent federal agency |
