OSU's Allied Arts receives NEA Challenge America Fast-Track grant

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Oklahoma State University's Allied Arts was selected to receive one of the 162 grants of $10,000 awarded to organizations in 46 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

As National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman has noted, "art works everywhere," which is why the NEA's Challenge America Fast-Track program supports projects from primarily small and mid-sized arts organizations that extend the reach of the arts to underserved audiences, those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

"Taken together, these Challenge America Fast-Track grants provide an extraordinary sampling of the work that arts organizations do to reach underserved communities," said Chairman Landesman. "With these grants, we are helping to ensure that art works for all Americans."

The program is called Fast-Track because of its expedited review timeline. Allied Arts was notified approximately six months after applying. Also, with 375 eligible applications submitted from across the country, there was significant competition for funding for these grants. According to Fran Gragg, interim coordinator for Allied Arts, the grant award is evidence of the artistic excellence and artistic merit of this program at OSU.

Allied Arts which is the oldest university performing arts series in Oklahoma, has brought thousands of outstanding performances to OSU and Stillwater as a part of its mission to enrich University life and provide the University community with a broad range of top professional musical, dance and theatrical events.

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at www.arts.gov . To see the complete listing of projects please go to http://www.arts.gov/grants/recent/12grants/12cham.php?disc=Challenge%20America.