Portland Ovations Receives NEA Grant to Support "Rite of Spring" Series and Events Being Planned for their 2013-14 Season

Grant one of 832 Art Works grants totaling $23.3 million in funding nationwide

Portland, Maine - National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced that Portland Ovations is one of 832 non-profit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. Portland Ovations is recommended for a $40,000 grant to support its core programming in contemporary chamber music, dance and global arts with a special emphasis on its series celebrating the centennial of Igor Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring."

The recommended grant by the NEA will be used to support Portland Ovations' 2012-13 centennial celebration of "Rite of Spring," featuring special projects with the Joffrey Ballet, pianists Ran Dank and Soyeon Kate Lee, The Bad Plus and Imani Winds. Other projects supported by this funding include Spellbound Dance Company, ETHEL, Voices of Afghanistan, and the Pablo Ziegler Trio as well as some projects slated for the 2013-14 season. All funded performances are accompanied by a variety of Ovations Offstage activities including discussions, lectures, workshops, master classes, and open rehearsals.

"I'm proud to announce these 832 grants to the American public including Portland Ovations' "Rite of Spring"

series," said Chairman Landesman. "These projects offer extraordinary examples of creativity in our country, including the creation of new work, innovative ways of engaging audiences, and exemplary education programs."

Portland Ovations' Executive Director, Aimée M. Petrin states, "We are honored to have received such generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts. Because of this funding, we are able to bring the high quality and exciting range of live art our community deserves."

In March 2012, the NEA received 1,509 eligible applications for Art Works requesting more than $74 million in funding. The 832 recommended NEA grants total $22.3 million,span 13 artistic disciplines and fields, and focus primarily on the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing works for the benefit of American audiences. Applications were reviewed by panels of outside experts convened by NEA staff and each project was judged on its artistic excellence and artistic merit.

For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.