National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced today that the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation is one of 832 non-profit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. The Jazz & Heritage Foundation is recommended for a $25,000 grant to support the Foundation's Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival.
The Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival is one of the many programs in education, economic development and cultural enrichment sponsored by the Jazz & Heritage Foundation. Founded in 2006, the festival started as an initiative to provide employment opportunities to Louisiana musicians in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It has grown into a signature event for New Orleans, one that attracts many thousands of blues and R&B fans from around the world.
"I'm proud to announce these 832 grants to the American public, including the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival," said Chairman Landesman. "These projects offer extraordinary examples of creativity in our country, including the creation of new work, innovative ways of engaging audiences, and exemplary education programs."
"As with all of our programs, we strive to create innovative ways to present our culture to the world," said Don Marshall, Executive Director of the Jazz & Heritage Foundation. "We're pleased that the NEA once again has seen the value in our programming."
In March 2012, the NEA received 1,509 eligible applications for Art Works, requesting more than $74 million in funding. The 832 recommended NEA grants total $22.3 million, span 13 artistic disciplines and fields, and focus primarily on the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing works for the benefit of American audiences. Applications were reviewed by panels of outside experts convened by NEA staff and each project was judged on its artistic excellence and artistic merit.
For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, visit the NEA website at arts.gov.
