South Jersey to benefit from new round of arts funding

Congressman Andrews announced earlier this week that Rutgers University's Camden Campus will receive a $50,000 federal grant to support jobs in various philanthropic and art support programs. Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and distributed by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), over 630 grants of this kind have been awarded nationwide, totaling nearly $30 million.
 
These grants are designed to preserve and generate jobs for the creation and presentation of artistically excellent work – both new and established. The projects being funded, which include commissions, residencies, rehearsals, workshops, performances, exhibitions, publications, festivals and training programs, have suffered extreme hardship due to the current economic downturn. However, this round of grants will not only put more Americans to work to serve these arts programs, but they will also generate more lasting opportunities by stimulating spending in local arts programs.

"The recession has impacted all levels of the economy. The arts, just like most other industries, experienced massive losses over the past year," said Congressman Andrews. "However, this round of grants will give art programs all over America the relief needed to support employment and promote economic growth while advancing our cultural and academic awareness."

As our country faces its highest unemployment rate in 25 years, this funding provides a necessary boost to preserve jobs threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support during the current economic downturn. For more information on this grant program and its application guidelines visit www.arts.gov.

Return to the Washington Updates Page