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Regional Arts Groups, Artists Get NEA Grants for 2010

Arts groups in Kentucky and Indiana will receive more than $300,000 in grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. WFPL’s Elizabeth Kramer has more.The NEA announced it is distributing the money to 17 arts groups and writers throughout Kentucky and Indiana in the first of two rounds of grants for 2010.And the list includes Sarabande Books. The not-for-profit literary press that was founded in Louisville in 1994 will receive $35,000.Sarah Gorham — Sarabande’s president and editor-in-chief — says the money is needed with the recession having impacted the press’s budget."The money will definitely go towards doing more books and increasing our education programs," she says, "including sending our authors out on tour — basically readings and workshops and lectures."Another Kentucky group that will receive a grant is The Paducah Symphony Orchestra. It's slated to get $10,000 that it plans to use for concerts that feature visual artists from the city’s LowerTown Arts District. So says orchestra executive director Darlene Dreyer."We have art exhibits and they’re themed alongside the theme of the music for the evening," Dreyer says. "So, I think that the NEA has picked up on a unique partnership that could very, very strongly be a long and ongoing project."Dreyer says the funding helps after the recession forced the group to cut costs and institute a hiring freeze.Among the Indiana recipients is the New Harmony Project, which runs an annual writers’ conference for new play development.Administrative director Joan David says the grant will help during this recession as the project has seen declines in donations from foundations and individuals."I think the market was down almost 40 percent last year, but our decrease was 20 percent from individuals," David says. "But 20 percent is significant when you have such a small budget — just $300,000."Below is a complete list of the grants awarded in Kentucky and Indiana. The grants are part of $26 million the NEA is distributing to more than 1,200 groups and individuals nationwide.NEA Grants to Groups and Individuals in KentuckyActors Theatre Of Louisville, Inc., $35,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)Appalshop, Inc. (Whitesburg), $15,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)Horse Cave Development Corporation, $10,000 (promoting local cultural organizations, traditions)(Grant Type: Challenge America)Juneteenth Festival, Inc. (Louisville), $10,000(Grant Type: Challenge America)The Louisville Ballet, $20,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Inc., $10,000(Grant Type: Challenge America)Sarabande Books, Inc. (Louisville), $35,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)Stephen Foster Drama Association, Inc. (Bardstown),  $10,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)University of Kentucky,  $15,000 (production of George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess")(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence) NEA Grants to Groups and Individuals in Indiana Frances Hwang (South Bend),$25,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)Indiana Repertory Theatre, Inc., $30,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)Indiana Symphony Society, Inc., $22,500(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)Indiana University$30,000 (contemporary folk traditions traveling exhibition)(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)Margaret McMullan (Evansville), $25,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)New Harmony Project, Inc., $15,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)South Bend Symphony Orchestra Association Inc., $10,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)Very Special Arts of Indiana, Inc., $15,000(Grant Type: Access to Artistic Excellence)