ArtCentre of Plano receives NEA Grant

by PegNews wire

PLANO — Applying for grants is a way of life in the non-profit world. It is a long and tedious process. Each grant application can be as different as each agency that applies. Most non-profits apply for hundreds of grants, hoping to be awarded with even a few. The ArtCentre of Plano is no different, except for this year.

Earlier this year the ArtCentre received a of a phone call from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in Washington, D.C. The ArtCentre was informed that they had been selected to apply for a special grant that was going to be given to a non-profit in Collin County. To receive a grant from the NEA is like receiving an Oscar from the Academy. It is the best of the best. It is also one of the hardest grant to receive. Hundreds of thousands of non-profits apply for grants from the NEA, and they selected the ArtCentre of Plano.

The NEA is the largest annual funder of the arts in the United States. An independent federal agency, the NEA is the official arts organization of the U.S. government. In its 40-year history, the NEA has awarded more than 120,000 grants that have brought art to Americans in communities large and small. The Challenge America Grant ensures that every community in the U.S. is receiving funds from the N.E.A. to further enrich the cultural atmosphere of U.S. communities.

“We are thrilled to be chosen for the Challenge America Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts,” said Suzy Jones, Executive Director for the ArtCentre, “The staff at the ArtCentre works so hard and this is a big pat on the back. When any arts organization receives a grant from the NEA it just makes the whole year seem brighter.

Non-profit organizations throughout Collin County struggle every year to make ends meet. “Art sales have been down this year, and people don’t seem to be donating as much to arts organizations as in years past. This grant from the NEA couldn’t have come at a better time for the ArtCentre of Plano. We feel very honored and grateful,” says Sue Oldham, ArtCentre Accountant.

The NEA believes a great nation deserves great art, and the ArtCentre of Plano believes the same thing for Collin County. The NEA has helped the arts become accessible to more Americans, which in turn has increased public participation in the arts.

There is not a better time to visit the ArtCentre of Plano than now. Located in the heart of downtown Plano at 15th and Ave. K., the ArtCentre has a brand new exhibition every 4-6 weeks and a Family Day on one Saturday during each exhibition. Family Days are an excellent opportunity for parents to introduce art into their children’s lives. Don’t let another fabulous exhibition go by without taking your family to the ArtCentre to experience the art together.

Source: The Art Centre of Plano