PHILADELPHIA PA – Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a senior Democratic Appropriator and an advocate for the regional arts community announced today the federal government’s investment in 18 Philadelphia arts organizations to the tune of $513,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts.

“Philadelphia is a world renowned center for the arts, theater and culture. It is significant that the National Endowment for the Arts has recognized our city’s pre-eminent place as worthy for this support,” Fattah said. “I am pleased to be the advocate for this incredibly rich cultural scene and I am proud that the federal government takes a leadership role so that these institutions, large and small, continue to thrive.”

Here is the list of local grants announced by the NEA:

• American Poetry Review, $10,000-- to support the publication, promotion, and distribution of The American Poetry Review.
• Astral Artistic Services, $15,000– for Spiritual Voyages, a concert of newly commissioned works by African American composers including educational and outreach activities.
• Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, Inc., $10,000– for Women of Note: A Celebration of Women Composers, a concert and radio broadcast.
• COSACOSA art at large Inc., $30,000 -- to support Home/Away from Home, a series of community-building art projects.
• Curtis Institute of Music, $20,000– for performances of Benjamin Britten's “Owen Wingrave,” presented in collaboration with the Opera Company of Philadelphia and Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
• InterAct, Inc., $18,000– to support a world premiere of “Some Other Kind Of Person” by Eric Pfeffinger.
• International House of Philadelphia, $10,000– for several curated film series.
• Mann Center for the Performing Arts, $30,000-- to support the Mann Summer Festival's Orchestral Concert Series, featuring the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.
• Marlboro School of Music, Inc., $32,500– for the Invited Master Artist Project.
• Network for New Music, Inc., $12,500-- to support Electronic.NNM: The Mini-Festival, featuring the commissioning and performance of a new chamber work for violin, viola, cello, and fixed media by composer Eric Chasalow.
• Opera Company of Philadelphia, $75,000-- to support performances of Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell's Silent Night
• Pennsylvania Ballet Association, $30,000 -- to support the presentation of “Artifact Suite,” choreographed by William Forsythe.
• Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, $15,000-- to support the Vocal Music Project.
• Philadelphia Dance Company, $60,000-- to support the creation and presentation of a new work by choreographer Christopher Huggins.
• Philadelphia Museum of Art, $80,000– to support the exhibition and catalogue, Fernand Leger and the Modern City.
• Philadelphia Theatre Company, $30,000 --for development and production of “Unvarnished,” a new play by Bill Cain.
• PlayPenn, Inc., $15,000 -- to support the 2013 Conference, a new play retreat and conference through which invited playwrights will work with a director, dramaturg, designer, and actors to develop new plays.
• Wilma Theater, Inc., $20,000 -- to support the U.S. premiere production of “Under the Whaleback” by British playwright Richard Bean, directed by Artistic Director Blanka Zizka.