BROADWAY CENTER SCORES ONE, TOO >>>

Last night we posted a ditty about the Tacoma Arts Commission's awesome news of their $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Tonight, the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts throws on the party hats with the news that they scored a $25,000 grant from the NEA. Let's read about it:

Tacoma, WA -Rocco Landesman, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, announced that Broadway Center for the Performing Arts has been approved for a grant of $25,000 to support the American Roots and Jazz series, four Broadway Center shows in 2011: Nanci Griffith (January 29), Jeffery Broussard and The Creole Cowboys (February 25), Preservation Hall Jazz Band with Trey McIntyre Project: Ma Maison (April 8), and Jane Monheit (April 23). Broadway Center is one of 1,057 not-for-profit organizations recommended for a grant as part of the federal agency's first round of fiscal year 2011 grants. In total, the Arts Endowment will distribute $26.68 million to support projects nationwide.

"This funding is the largest grant from the NEA in the Broadway Center's 26-year history," said Broadway Center Deputy Executive Director Benjii Bittle. "'American Roots and Jazz' will help us bring attention to artists and art forms seldom seen here. Despite the success of local college-based music programs, the South Puget Sound region lacks consistent live jazz programming. The NEA is also stepping up to help the Broadway Center fill a void in roots music, especially since the departure of Wintergrass from Tacoma. We're grateful to the NEA for their validation of the importance of this programming and adult education work."

Good news, indeed.