Four local artistic institutions receive federal grants

Four major Cincinnati arts organizations will receive grants in the first round of major funding for 2019 by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the federal agency announced.

The Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park will each receive federal grants to support works they’re producing this year.

Cincinnati Ballet will get $10,000 to support its restaging of Igor Stravinsky’s masterworks “Firebird” and “Rite of Spring.” The works will be choreographed by Adam Hougland and presented at Cincinnati Music Hall March 21–24.

A generous $30,000 will go to the Cincinnati Opera to support its presentation of George Gershwin’s great American opera “Porgy and Bess,” along with related community engagement programming. The production will feature costumes by the Tony Award-winning “Hamilton” costume designer, Paul Tazewell. Grammy-nominated soprano Talise Trevigne will make her company debut as Bess. The performance will be staged July 20, 25, 27, and 28 at Cincinnati Music Hall.

And finally, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is the recipient of $40,000 to support Classical Roots, a series of concerts and recitals in celebration of African-American musical heritage. The March 8 program at Music Hall will bring together 150 singers from churches throughout the region, and feature special guest Lisa Fischer, who toured for years with The Rolling Stones.

The grants were part of a round of more than $27 million across all 50 states from the NEA.

“The arts enhance our communities and our lives,” says Mary Anne Carter, acting NEA chairman. “We look forward to seeing these projects take place throughout the country, giving Americans opportunities to learn, to create, to heal, and to celebrate.”