WVSO nationally awarded $20,000 from National Endowment for the Arts

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects and partnerships in the NEA’s second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2016.  Included in this announcement is an Art Works award of $20,000 to the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra (WVSO) to support a statewide touring and community engagement project. The Art Works category supports the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement with the arts through 13 arts disciplines or fields.

“The arts are all around us, enhancing our lives in ways both subtle and obvious, expected and unexpected,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Supporting projects like the one from the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra offers more opportunities to engage in the arts every day.”

WVSO President Joe Tackett commented, “The WVSO is proud to be receiving support from the National Endowment for the Arts. They are aware of the fine work the orchestra has done in bringing great music to all of the citizens of West Virginia. This money will go a long way in providing concerts in Elkins, Glenville, Princeton, Franklin and other stops on our statewide tour.”

This award will support the initiative of a long-standing, in-state touring program; a wide array of run-out symphonic and pops subscription performances, including residencies across the state. This project makes professional, symphonic music more accessible to our rural, under-served demographic and serves up to 19,000 audience members throughout West Virginia, as well as communities in bordering states.

To join the Twitter conversation about this announcement, please use #NEASpring16.For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, go to arts.gov.

The West Virginia Symphony Orchestra is West Virginia’s premier performing arts organization, presenting classical, pops, and chamber-music concerts annually throughout the Mountain State. Currently in its 77th season, the WVSO is a proud member of the community and enriches the region by providing affordable, high-quality concerts, collaborations with West Virginia arts organizations and a nationally award-winning education program.