Crossroads Awarded NEA Challenge America Grant
Baker City, OR—National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $25 million in grants as part of the NEA’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2018. Included in this announcement is a Challenge America grant of $10,000 to Crossroads Carnegie Art Center for ArtSpeak, Crossroads free after school art programs for at-risk youth. The Challenge America category features NEA support for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations—those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.
“It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one Crossroads Carnegie Art Center, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed, and increase the quality of our lives,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities and connections the arts bring.”
“We are thrilled to receive this Challenge America Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, this is our second grant in the last 4 years to Crossroads. Our Board of Directors and Staff is very proud of this as it shows to our community and to the NEA that we successfully managed our last grant. This is about building a long term relationship with the NEA and being great stewards of public funds to the greater good of our community.” States Executive Director Ginger Savage.
ArtSpeak a program of Crossroads founded in 1989, by Debbie Friedman, purpose is to offer the art experience to disadvantaged and “at-risk” populations. The Mission: ArtSpeak is a series of creative and performing arts projects designed to engage “at-risk” and disadvantaged populations within our community. The Vision: This experience of creativity and art education strengthens social responsibility and self-esteem for participants and bridges economic and social gaps within the community.
Ginger Savage
Executive Director
Crossroads Carnegie Art Center
Baker City, OR