WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Dan Lipinski announced that the Beverly Arts Center will be awarded a grant of $13,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts.  The grant will be used by the Arts Center to organize a Big Read program which aims to restore reading in American culture.

"This grant of thirteen thousand dollars will help the Beverly Arts Center encourage reading and foster a greater appreciation of literature," said Lipinski. "The Big Read is one of the many great educational and cultural arts programs the BAC provides the region."

A 2004 report by the National Endowment for the Arts found that not only is reading in America declining rapidly among all groups, but that the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among youth.  The Big Read program provides federal funds to communities throughout the country to address this growing reading crisis.

"I am proud to announce this grant award for the Beverly Arts Center and look forward to continuing my work providing the Third District with important resources that help our communities," said Rep. Lipinski.