FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Kate Patterson, San Francisco Arts Commission
Tel: 415-252-4638 E: Kate.Patterson@sfgov.org

SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION AWARDED $83,000 IN GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS

Grants to support award-winning creative writing program for youth and
Central Market revitalization initiative

SAN FRANCISCO — Today the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced its fiscal year 2012 grantees. Among the winners are two San Francisco Arts Commission programs. Under the Arts Education category, WritersCorps will receive a $63,000 grant to support its ongoing creative writing programs for at-risk youth in underserved public schools. The ARTery Project, an initiative aimed at revitalizing the Central Market corridor into a vibrant and sustainable neighborhood with the arts at its core, will receive $20,000 to support innovative site-specific installations and performances.

“The fact that both WritersCorps and The ARTery Project have now received multiple grants from the NEA in recent years is a testament to the strength and the impact of these programs,” said Director of Cultural Affairs Tom DeCaigny. “This support will enable us to continue to enrich the educational experience of young people through creative writing and to build a better neighborhood in Central Market through the arts.”

According to Mayor Ed Lee, “These arts programs help residents engage with the community, and that engagement translates to lower crime rates, greater civic and neighborhood pride, improved quality of life, and, for our youth, better academic performance. In Central Market, I have seen firsthand the transformative power of the arts, and I believe it to be a key to future success in other revitalization efforts throughout the City.”

The NEA announced 928 grants totaling $77.17 million to not-for-profit organizations nationwide. These grants support exemplary projects in arts education, dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, local arts agencies, media arts, museums, music, opera, presenting, theater, musical theater, and visual arts, and provide support to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations.

Chairman Landesman said, “The arts should be a part of everyday life. Whether it’s seeing a performance, visiting a gallery, participating in an art class, or simply taking a walk around a neighborhood enhanced by public art, these grants are ensuring that across the nation, the public is able to experience how art works.”

Click here for the complete listing of Partnership grants.

A state-by-state listing of all the grants announced in this release is also available.

About the San Francisco Arts Commission

The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) is the City agency that champions the arts in San Francisco. We believe that a creative cultural environment is essential to the City’s well-being. Established by charter in 1932, the SFAC integrates the arts into all aspects of City life. Programs include: Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Arts & Education, Cultural Equity Grants, Public Art, SFAC Gallery, Street Artists Licensing, and the San Francisco Symphony Youth and Community Concert Series. The agency’s core values are committed to the principle that all residents have equal access to arts experiences in all disciplines, that programs are provided comprehensively and evenly throughout the City, and that they are innovative and of the highest quality.

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector.  To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.