REAL Exclusive Magazine

Sarasota Opera Grant To Support World Premiere Of Little Nemo In Slumberland.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced that Sarasota Opera is one of 788 not-for-profit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant. Sarasota Opera is recommended for a $22,500 grant to support the technology design and creation for the world premiere of Little Nemo in Slumberland. This marks the third grant received from the NEA for this project, the first being a grant in the amount of $15,000 towards the commissioning of the piece and the second in the amount of $25,000 to help cover the initial production costs associated with the commission. 

Chairman Landesman said, “The arts should be a part of everyday life. Whether it’s seeing a performance, visiting a gallery, participating in an art class, or simply taking a walk around a neighborhood enhanced by public art, these grants are ensuring that across the nation, the public is able to experience how art works.”

“Furthering chairman Landesman’s comment, Sarasota Opera not only agrees that the arts should be a part of the publics everyday life, but specifically children’s lives as well,” says Sarasota Opera Executive Director, Susan Danis. “We are truly thankful for the progressive vision of the NEA as this grant will help us to ensure the once in a lifetime opportunity we are able to offer the young community of Sarasota in presenting the world premiere of a fully staged opera.  There is nowhere else in the United States offering this kind of opportunity to children between the ages of 8 and 18.”

The NEA received 1,624 eligible applications under the Art Works category for this round of funding. The 788 Art Works granted 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.