NEA Chairman Landesman Announces Challenge America Fast-Track Grants
Roxy Productions Inc. one of only 162 grantees nationwide

CLARKSVILLE, TN — As National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Rocco Landesman has noted, “Art works everywhere,” which is why the NEA’s Challenge America Fast-Track (CAFT) program supports projects from primarily small and mid-sized arts organizations that extend the reach of the arts to underserved audiences —those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability. Roxy Productions Inc. (dba Roxy Regional Theatre) was selected to receive one of the 162 grants of $10,000 awarded to organizations in 46 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Awarded funds will be used to support the Roxy Regional Theatre’s March/April 2012 production of The Red Badge of Courage, adapted by John McDonald from the novel by Stephen Crane. As the second installment in the Roxy’s four-year series commemorating The Sesquicentennial of The Civil War, performances will be targeted to military and student audiences. This is the Roxy’s third Challenge America Fast-Track Grant from the NEA, following awards in FY2009 and FY2011.

“Taken together, these Challenge America Fast-Track grants provide an extraordinary sampling of the work that arts organizations do to reach underserved communities,” said Chairman Landesman. “With these grants, we are helping to ensure that art works for all Americans.”

Roxy Regional Theatre Artistic Director John McDonald noted, “To have the acknowledgement of the National Endowment of the Arts places us on a higher plane and gains us national recognition as a major contributor to the arts in our community, as well as a cultural asset to our surrounding counties.”

The program is called Fast-Track because of its expedited review timeline. Roxy Productions Inc. was notified approximately six months after applying. Also, with 375 eligible applications submitted from across the country, there was significant competition for funding for these grants. Roxy Productions Inc.’s grant award is evidence of the artistic excellence and artistic merit of their production of The Red Badge of Courage.

Please see the complete listing of projects recommended for Challenge America Fast-Track grant support at http://www.arts.gov/grants/recent/12grants/12cham.php?disc=Challenge%20America.

Roxy Productions Inc. (dba the Roxy Regional Theatre) has dedicated itself to producing theatre meeting the highest artistic standards, first as a community theatre and then as a professional regional theatre, presenting over 500 mainstage productions and 75 alternative stage productions since its inception in 1983. For more information, visit www.roxyregionaltheatre.org.

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at www.arts.gov.