July 9, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VAN CLIBURN FOUNDATION TO RECEIVE RECOVERY ACT GRANT FROM NATIONAL
ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS
FORT WORTH, TEXAS, July 9, 2009--The National Endowment for the
Arts (NEA) has announced the organizations scheduled to receive
grants as part of its American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009. The Van Cliburn Foundation has been recommended to receive
$25,000 to support its Musical Awakenings children's education
program. The Cliburn's grant is one of twenty awarded in Texas,
four of which are in the Fort Worth/Dallas area.
This one-time offering will award nearly $30 million in direct
grants to 631 non-profit arts groups across the country as part of
the NEA's federal stimulus package. The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act is intended to preserve jobs threatened by
declines in philanthropic and other support during the current
economic downturn.
The Van Cliburn Foundation will use its $25,000 grant award to
help cover artist fees for Musical Awakenings, an in-school music
education program that reaches 25,000 North Texas children each
year. The program serves second, third, and fourth graders in
ninety-three public elementary schools across the Metroplex,
including every elementary school in the Fort Worth Independent
School District. Musical Awakenings is offered free of charge, and
the interdisciplinary curriculum follows state-mandated Texas
Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) guidelines. Six local
musicians will participate in program performances during the
2009-2010 school year.
NEA funding will also allow the Cliburn to continue offering free
piano lessons to a small group of Musical Awakenings students. The
lessons are taught by a local piano instructor and run throughout
the school year. The Cliburn provides the children with practice
keyboards and other materials.
Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts, a
national arts advocacy group, remarks: "In just five short months
since the passage of the economic recovery bill, the NEA enacted a
plan that quickly and efficiently distributed $50 million to reach
non-profit arts businesses in every corner of America. Many jobs
will be saved and arts programs will continue on as a result of
these much-needed funds." The Cliburn's award will not only help
sustain valuable music education in North Texas public schools, but
will also stimulate the local economy by providing jobs for artists
and arts professionals.
See the Texas arts groups slated to receive NEA funding through
this initiative.
ExxonMobil is the Principal Corporate Sponsor of the Van Cliburn
Foundation. American Airlines, Bank of America, City of Fort Worth,
J.P.Morgan, Star-Telegram, Steinway & Sons, and XTO Energy Inc.
are Official Corporate Sponsors, and RadioShack is the Cliburn's
Corporate Sponsor. Official Sponsors are the Amon G. Carter
Foundation, Arts Council of Fort Worth and Tarrant County, Beaumont
Foundation of America, the Burnett Foundation, the Sid W.
Richardson Foundation, and the T. Boone Pickens Foundation.
Star-Telegram is the principal media partner and WRR 101.1 FM is
the official radio station of Cliburn Concerts.
________________________________________
Contacts:
Elizabeth Delaney, Director of Publications/Grants,
817.738.6536
Emily Wynne, Assoc. Director of Marketing & P.R.,
817.738.6536
Website: www.cliburn.org
