Table Of Content

THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS THE ARTS IN RURAL AMERICA Photos appearing throughout this publication illustrate projects which are supported with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. The coverphoto: HermanJohnson of Oklahoma instructs Illinois apprentice Amy Quackenbush, one ofmanyyoung fiddlers who attend the Bethel Youth Fiddle Camp. Held eachyear in Bethel, Missouri the camp allowsyoungfiddlers from across the country to receive instructionfrom masterfiddlers. The National Endowment for the Arts is a Federal agency advised by the National Council on the Arts Chairman, John E. Frohnmayer August 1991 — Letter from the Chairman Rural America is home to art in many forms. Americans in rural communities have been produc- ing, presenting, enjoying, sharing and preserving art for as long as anyone remembers. Dance, drama, poetry, storytelling, painting, photography, quilting, lacemaking, crafts, music- making (in too many forms to recount) these homegrown arts activities enrich the communities that nourish them. In a time of rapid change, many rural communities are struggling to preserve the traditions that form part of their heritage. Many also want to know more about — art from other places whether it be art from other parts of America or from other countries. But, because of geographic or eco- nomic factors, many rural communities find it difficult to realize their aspirations in the arts. I have made support for arts activities in rural communities one of the priorities of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Endowment seeks to promote and support the arts that exist in rural areas, to share them with other Americans, and to give rural communities more opportunities to learn about or experience art from other areas of the country and the world. It does so through direct support and through support to its public partners, the local, state and regional arts agencies. The Con- gress also recognized the importance of the arts in rural America when, in the Endowment’s 1990 reauthorization, it set aside funds “to stimulate artistic activity and awareness and broaden public access to the arts and arts resources in rural. . . communities. . 2 The agency’s rural initiatives will focus on communities that typically: • Have a population of less than 20,000. • Are more than an hour’s drive from a community of more than 50,000. • Do not have a college or university with a stu- dent population over 5,000. • Are limited in material resources and/or have generally low incomes. • Have an economy based primarily on agriculture, extraction industries, or tourism. Have no more than one major manufacturing • plant in the community. • Have limited access to the work of professional artists or arts organizations. • Rely primarily on volunteers to provide opportunities to experience the arts. Because definitions of “rural” differ from state to state and because each community’s circumstances are likely to be unique, the above list serves only as a guide. This brochure serves to introduce the work of the National Endowment for the Arts and to highlight those programs likely to be of special interest to rural communities. Chairman The National Endowment for the Arts is a small Federal agency in the Executive branch of our government. Its mission is to foster the excellence, diversity, and vitality of the arts in the United States and to help broaden the availability and appreciation of the arts. To carry out its mission, the Endowment offers grants in national competi- tion to support arts activities in all art forms and fields: matching grants to nonprofit organizations, nonmatching fellowships and project grants to individuals. Each year the Endowment receives about 18,000 applications and awards about 4,500 grants. The Arts Endowment s programs (listed on page 14) have grant categories that provide funding directly to artists and arts organizations in communities large and small, urban and rural, throughout the United States. The Endowment also supports many other projects that bring performances, exhibitions or services to rural communities (see page 12). Of particular interest to rural communities are those categories listed below, which are designed spe- cifically to support arts activities in rural areas. 4 The Arts Endowment has several programs targeted to reach artists andartsorganizations in ruralareas. Chester “Chet” Olsen of Wakonda, The South Dakota supports the folk and traditional explains the process offiddle arts that have grown through making at the time within the many groups that 1989SouthDakota make up our nation—groups that Centennial Folk Festival. share the same ethnic heritage, language, occupation, religion, or geographic area. These folk arts include music, dance, poetry, stories, oratory, crafts, and various types of visual arts forms. The community with access to all Program provides grants to organ- types of quality art, and to help izations for the presentation of train talented persons aspiring to traditional arts and artists of the be professional artists. The Pro- highest artistic quality and for gram is especially interested in media preservation and presenta- encouraging applications from tion oftraditional arts. For further rural arts organizations that offer information, call 202/682-5449. the arts to low income, isolated populations; projects should The Folk Arts Program also pro- involve the indigenous artists of vides national recognition annu- the applicant organization’s com- ally to a small number of exem- munity. For further information, plary master folk artists and artisans through its National call 202/682-5443. Heritage Fellowships, the major- The ity of which go to artists from promotes excellence in the fields rural areas. of architecture, landscape archi- The tecture, urban design and plan- ning, historic preservation, interi- supports professionally directed or design, industrial and product arts organizations that are deeply design, and graphic design. Pro- rooted in and reflective of cultur- ject Grantsfor Rural and Small ally diverse, inner city, rural, or Communitiesare available to assist tribal communities. Funds are rural and small towns in their available to help create, exhibit or present artistic work reflective efforts to solve complex design problems through design assis- of a community, to provide a tance and demonstration projects. 5 In addition, the Design Arts Pro- The Museum Program offers gram conducts special education support for small regional and and demonstrationprojects through rural institutions to organize cooperative and interagency agree- and/or borrow exhibitions that ments. In conjunction with the will present arts not generally National Trust for Historic Preser- seen in their communities. In vation, the Program is sponsoring addition, the Program’s Touring “Your Town,” a series of training Initiative offers support for programs for individuals who museums and regional and ser- provide technical assistance to rural vice organizations to organize communities on design and devel- and tour exhibitions at low rental opment issues. With the Soil fees to small regional and rural Conservation Service of the U.S. institutions and audiences that Department of Agriculture, the have limited access to diverse Program has placed landscape exhibition programs. For further architects in Resource Conserva- information, call 202/682-5442. tion and Development Areas in Georgia, Iowa and Utah to show Grants to how scenic assessment techniques, Individual Artists visual simulation and other design Several Endowment programs skills can benefit resource conser- offer grants to individual artists, vation, management and enhance- wherever they may live. The Dance ment. The Program also supports Program awards Choreographers’ Project Grantsfor Heritage Con- Fellowships and Dance/Film/Video servation andfor Design Educa- grants; the Design Arts Program tion. For further information offers USA Fellowshipsfordesigners about the Design Arts Program, and those in design related pro- call 202/682-5437. fessions as well as Project Grants The Literature Program forIndividuals that advance design supports Residenciesfor Writers practice, research, theory, and and Reading Series for published communication. The Literature writers ofpoetry, fiction, and crea- Program offers Fellowships for tive nonfiction; performancepoets; Creative Writers and Translators and translators. Preference is given of creative literature, the Media to projects that develop new audi- Arts Program offers Film/Video ences for creative writers of the Production grants for individuals, highest quality, particularly those and the Museum Program funds just achieving recognition, and Fellowships for Museum Profes- that support literary programs in sionals. The Music Program offers communities and populations tra- Composers and Collaborative ditionally underserved. For further Fellowships, Jazz Fellowships, information, call 202/682-5451. and Solo Recitalists Fellowships. 6 The Theater Program provides fellowships for solo performanee theater artists, distinguished theater artists, playwrights, and stage designers. The Visual Arts Program provides fellowships for practicing professional artists working in a wide variety of visual media: painting, sculpture, photography, crafts, printmaking, drawing, artists books, video, performance art, conceptual art, and new genres. In addition, the Inter-Arts, Media Arts and Visual Arts Programs offer fellowships through regional organizations. Janine Pease The Endowment also offers Arts WindyBoy(Crow) (left) andAustin Administration Fellowships that Two Moons provide arts administrators with a (Northern work-study opportunity at the Cheyenne) address the 1990 Big Sky Endowment. Market in Billings, Montana. Indians from the Northern Plainsgatherfor three days to demonstrate their traditionaland contemporary arts and crafts, to participate in culturalactivities and to sell their artifacts. The general population is invited. 7 The Vigilante Theatre Company, a national repertory traveling theatre, tours seven states in the northwest region. The company is in its 11th season. Shown (left to right) “Skip” Haroldsen, Gwyn Ganjeau,John Hosking and Rhonda Smith. Murals oflife size kachinas, by artistsAlex and Kenneth Seowtewa adorn the interior ofa 17th centur—y mission church part ofa major touristarea. TheMissouri Arts Council’s TraditionalArts Apprenticeship Program (TAAP) continues the tradition of musicalarts of Missouri through the teachings of masterartists. 8