We are pleased to announce that the company has received a National Endowment for the Arts Art Works grant of $15,000 in support of our June 2014 North American premiere of Adam Gorb’s Anya 17.
“This is a significant milestone for the company,” said our Executive Director, Tod Brody. “Marking the first time that the National Endowment for the Arts has supported our groundbreaking work, it shows that not only are Opera Parallèle’s past accomplishments noteworthy, but that we are recognized as a company on the rise.”
Acting Chairman Shigekawa said, “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support these exciting and diverse arts projects that will take place throughout the United States. Whether it is through a focus on education, engagement, or innovation, these projects all contribute to vibrant communities and memorable experiences for the public to engage with the arts.”
Gorb’s Anya17 is a bold work addressing the brutal realities of modern slavery and human trafficking. The award-winning partnership of composer Adam Gorb and his brilliant librettist Ben Kaye is rooted in operas about extreme conditions and Anya17 is the latest in a series of highly socially-conscious operas. “Opera Parallèle continues to push the definition of contemporary opera by making it relevant to 21st century issues, and we feel it is imperative to explore opera as a vehicle for social change,” said Artistic Director, Nicole Paiement.
Opera Parallèle is one of 895 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive a National Endowment of the Arts Art Works grant. Art Works grants 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 enhancing the livability of communities through the arts. The National Endowment of the Arts received 1,528 eligible Art Works applications, requesting more than $75 million in funding. Of those applications, 895 are recommended for grants for a total of $23.4 million.
For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the National Endowment of the Arts website at www.arts.gov.