Theater News

American Theatre Wing Receives $60,000 From National Endowment for the Arts

The Wing has received two new grants as part of the N.E.A.’s initiative to fund local arts projects across the country.

American Theatre Wing President Heather Hitchens has accepted two new grants from the National Endowment for the Arts.
American Theatre Wing president Heather Hitchens has accepted two new grants from the National Endowment for the Arts to fund its local projects.
(© David Gordon)

National Endowment for the Arts chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects across the country in the N.E.A.'s second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2017. Included in this announcement are two Art Works awards to the American Theatre Wing: $35,000 to fund SpringboardNYC and the Theatre Intern Network (through the N.E.A.'s Theater and Musical Theater discipline), and $25,000 for production of the Working in the Theatre docuseries (through the N.E.A.'s Media Arts discipline). The N.E.A. received 1,728 Art Works applications and will make 1,029 grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.

SpringboardNYC is an intensive program that connects students to inside knowledge and industry players, creating major opportunities for young actors that put them at a professional advantage. Theatre Intern Network similarly provides developing theater professionals advanced education, networking opportunities, and tools for career advancement within a supportive creative community.

Working in the Theatre is the Wing’s Emmy-nominated documentary series produced to entertain audiences by revealing theater's inner-workings, profiling industry luminaries, and taking a closer look at unique stories that surround important work.

"The arts reflect the vision, energy, and talent of America’s artists and arts organizations," said Chu. "The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support organizations such as the American Theatre Wing, in serving their communities by providing excellent and accessible arts experiences."

"Since its founding, the National Endowment for the Arts has been integral to the development of all forms of art across this country," added Heather Hitchens, president of the American Theatre Wing. "The work that we do at the Wing, especially in the programs that were designated grants, helps to make theater accessible to everyone across the country no matter their background. This is vital to the cultural fabric of our nation."