NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS LIKES TACOMA >>>

The National Endowment for the Arts has come clean with $10,000 for the Tacoma's Arts Commission's über awesome Art at Work program. Securing the money on its first effort (nice!), the Commission will have a bit more cash to make next year's Art at Work – its 10^th anniversary of the month-long arts extravaganza – more awesome. Here's the press release:

Rocco Landesman, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), announced today that the Tacoma Arts Commission has been approved for a $10,000 NEA grant in support of the Art at Work Arts Symposium, as well as increased technical assistance opportunities for artists and arts organizations in 2011.

"We are honored to receive this funding from the NEA to help us support Tacoma's artists and arts organizations," said Tacoma Arts Administrator Amy McBride. "Art is at work in Tacoma every day of every year and, considering the Art at Work program celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2011, we want to provide even more opportunities for Tacoma's artists to build capacity and be successful."

The Tacoma Arts Commission was one of 1,057 not-for-profit organizations recommended for a grant as part of the NEA's first round of grants in 2011. In total, the NEA will distribute $26.68 million to support projects nationwide.

An independent agency of the federal government established by Congress in 1965, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion in grants to advance artistic excellence, creativity and innovation to benefit individuals and communities. ??"I continue to be impressed with the creative, innovative and excellent projects brought forward by arts organizations across the country," said Landesman. "Our grantees are not only furthering their art forms, but also enhancing their neighborhoods by making them more vibrant, livable and fun."

LINK: Tomorrow is the last 2010 Art at Work day! (sad face)