(Belfast, ME) Waterfall Arts has been selected to receive one of the 162 grants of $10,000 awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts to organizations in 46 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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.”

The funds will be used to undertake a major assessment of Waterfall Arts’ Belfast building, the former Governor Anderson School . The assessment will include structural and energy systems analysis, investigation of moisture problems and the determination of options that will make the building handicapped accessible.

Waterfall Arts’ Facilities Committee, under the leadership of Matt O’Malia of Belfast’s award-winning GO Logic Homes, and Waterfall Arts staff will develop a long term, high efficiency renovation plan incorporating the information obtained through these assessments by the end of June 2012.

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

As a contemporary arts center, Waterfall Arts offers classes, residencies, exhibitions, studio space and art and cultural events for all ages and abilities. With its mission of creating community in harmony with nature through the transformative power of the arts, the organization plays a vital role in increasing availability to the arts in a community with limited access due to economics and geographic location.

“This NEA grant is the first step in providing the mid-coast area with a state of the art facility for arts education, performance space, exhibits and residencies” said Alan Crichton, Board President and co-founder of Waterfall Arts. “The planning and assessment phase will allow us to develop a systematic, well thought out and science based renovation plan leading to a reduction in energy use.”

The grant program is called Fast-Track because of its expedited review timeline; organizations received notification of the grant award about six months after applying. With 375 eligible applications submitted from across the country, there was significant competition for funding for these grants. Waterfall Arts’ grant award is evidence of the artistic excellence and artistic merit of the building renovation project.

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.

>link to Waterfall Arts website

>link to the National Endowment for the Arts website

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