NEA Advisors Convene 155th Meeting

IFACCA/Artshub, 12 July 2005,USA

The advisory body of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Council for the Arts, convened its 155th meeting on 14th July. Three presentations were to be made: Two of these discussing the ongoing NEA National Leadership Initiatives: the National Poetry Recitation Contest and American Masterpieces. The third focusing on the field of arts presenters. Excerpt from media release: The National Poetry Recitation Contest is a pilot program sponsored by the NEA and the Poetry Foundation to encourage the nation's youth to learn about great poetry. During the 2004-2005 school year, the NEA coordinated a pilot program in Washington area schools. In the program, participating students received two poetry anthologies and an original audio CD featuring readings and commentary by well-known writers and actors. Participating teachers received a guidebook with contest guidelines and tips on teaching poetry memorization and recitation. In the Washington D.C. area, more than 4,000 students have participated in a series of classroom and schoolwide recitation contests leading up to the regional finals at the Folger Shakespeare Library. The Poetry Foundation managed a similar program and regional competition among Chicago-area high schools, which culminated with an April 11th recitation event at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. American Masterpieces Visual Arts Touring grants support the creation and touring of major exhibitions of art of the highest quality that otherwise may not be available to communities across the nation. Through this category the NEA will fund 11 projects, for a total federal investment of more than $1.1 million, to support visual arts touring of exhibitions from the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA. Mario Garcia Durham, NEA Director of Presenting, will give an update about the presenting field in the U.S. Mr. Durham has invited representatives from three of the field's outstanding institutions to speak. The guests are Ms. Sandra Gibson, President/CEO of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, Ms. Anita Scism, President/CEO of the Walton Arts Center, and Mr. Terrence Jones, President/CEO of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts. For further information, CLICK HERE

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