The Center for Photography at Woodstock to receive $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts
Woodstock, NY —National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $30 million in grants as part of the NEA’s first major funding announcement for fiscal year 2017. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $20,000 to The Center for Photography at Woodstock for their Woodstock AIR program. The Art Works category focuses on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and the strengthening of communities through the arts.
“Woodstock AIR is one of CPW’s leading programs, especially due to its focus on artists of color. It addresses a global need within the arts community to provide meaningful opportunities for art making and direct support for artists. Over 100 artists have participated in CPW’s residency program since it was launched in 1999. With public support such as the NEA’s generous grant, CPW can continue to provide this career defining experience,” said CPW’s Executive Director Hannah Frieser.
CPW’s Artist-In-Residence Program provides opportunities for US-based artists and critics/scholars/curators of color working in photography. Participating AIRs receive 24/7 access to facilities, as well as financial, critical, and technical support. The objective for this program is to free the artist from the busy routines and demands of everyday life – and to provide a sanctuary for creativity. WOODSTOCK AIR encourages participants to pursue creative risk-taking in an environment rich in cultural resources. Working without distraction or interruption, participants focus intensely on their own work, continue works in progress, set goals for the future, and break new ground.
“The arts are for all of us, and by supporting organizations such as The Center for Photography at Woodstock, the National Endowment for the Arts is providing more opportunities for the public to engage with the arts,” said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “Whether in a theater, a town square, a museum, or a hospital, the arts are everywhere and make our lives richer.”
For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.
For more information on Woodstock AIR, visit www.cpw.org.
Image: Ke Peng, Artist-in-Residence 2016