The National Endowment for the Arts has approved more than $30 million in grants as part of the NEA’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2017.
Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $12,500 to LEAF Community Arts for the Legends of African project occurring May 2017 at LEAF Festival and Asheville community at large.
The Art Works category focuses on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts.“The arts are for all of us, and by supporting organizations such as [insert organization name], the National Endowment for the Arts is providing more opportunities for the public to engage with the arts,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Whether in a theater, a town square, a museum, or a hospital, the arts are everywhere and make our lives richer.”
“At a time where cultural preservation and awareness is being challenged throughout the globe, LEAF Community Arts continues to forge pathways of access & understanding through music, arts, and community building. Our “Legends of Africa” theme features master performers hailing from 12 African countries, sharing their rich cultural traditions through a dynamic series of performances, workshops, and outreach programs. Collectively, a community of 12,000 festival goers will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the transformational power of authentic African song, dance, and story… Fostering inspiration, awareness and unity for generations to come.”
– Ehren Cruz, LEAF Performing Arts Director
LEAF is dedicated to expanding cultural understanding through arts and music. In a time when cultures and people are more divided than ever, it is vital to create bridges between people of diverse cultural traditions. The Legends of Africa project will forge new cultural connections for residents of Western North Carolina through three distinct programs featuring some of the best talent from of the African continent: In-school residencies within Buncombe County, performances and workshops at May 2017 LEAF Festival (May 11-14, 2017), and a public ‘informance’ at the Orange Peel in downtown Asheville on Monday, May 15.
For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.