Arts & Entertainment
Bach Choir Awarded NEA Art Works Grant
The choir will receive $10,000 to help support various local community programs.
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has announced that is one of 788 not-for-profit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant, receiving a $10,000 grant in support of its educational outreach programs.
“The Bach Choir is extremely grateful to receive an NEA grant for a second year. Last year’s first NEA Art Works grant to The Choir was very significant in helping the success of our educational programs in reaching more than 13,000 people of all ages and walks of life, including many children who have never before experienced a classical music concert,” Bach Choir Executive Director Bridget George said. “It begins a process of life-long learning and enthusiasm.”
This year The Bach Choir will continue its multi-faceted educational outreach program that gives access to and experience with choral and orchestral music by Bach and other composers for adults, children, and inter-generational groups. It includes “Bach to School”, “Family Concerts”, a young composers competition, and “Bach at Noon.”
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“Bach to School,” initiated by Greg Funfgeld in 1993, has now been presented for more than 90,000 children.
“Bach at Noon,” a free concert series presented seven times a year at Central Moravian Church, has brought close to 1,000 people to Downtown Bethlehem for each of the concerts since its inception in 2005. The 50th “Bach at Noon” concert was recently celebrated, noting the overwhelming success of this significant community and economic development project this past January.
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Funfgeld has also been invited to make a presentation at the Chorus America National Conference in Minneapolis from June 13 to 16. The subject of Funfgeld’s presentation on June 14 will be “Integrating Mission-Based Educational Outreach Programs.”
The 788 NEA Art Works grants total $24.81 million and support 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.