Marcus Performing Arts Center to Receive $15,000 Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

MILWAUKEE (January 31, 2024) – The Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to receive a $15,000 Grants for Arts Projects award to support its MPAC Presents programming. Specific funding from the NEA will help support MPAC’s arts & cultural series of Dance, Jazz, and special performances this season. MPAC’s project is one of 958 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $27.1 million that were announced as part of NEA’s first round of fiscal year 2024 grants.

“The NEA is delighted to announce this grant to the Marcus Performing Arts Center, which is helping contribute to the strength and well-being of the arts sector and local community,” said National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “We are pleased to be able to support this community and help create an enhttps://www.marcuscenter.org/vironment where all people have the opportunity to live artful lives.”

“At the Marcus Performing Arts Center, we are dedicated to bringing the best of arts and cultural programming to our community, while ensuring that our work reflects the many diverse voices that make up our culture. We will continue our strong emphasis on advancing racial equity, diversity, and inclusion through transformative artistic experiences,” said MPAC President & CEO Kevin Giglinto. “Support from the NEA promotes and strengthens the creative capacity of our Milwaukee region by providing more artistic experiences for all to enjoy.”

The 2023/24 MPAC Presents season (Dance, Jazz, and additional special performances) continues to incorporate diverse artists with a goal to improve the variety and cultural relevance of our offerings as well as introduce new artists and genres to the community. This season features NEA Jazz Masters, world-renowned dance companies, and acclaimed music ensembles from around the nation.

The grant also helps to advance the MPAC REDI Action Plan. Through this commitment, MPAC has pledged to invest in BIPOC artists by ensuring a minimum of 30% of its annual performing arts programming are presented by BIPOC artists telling BIPOC stories. MPAC is pleased to announce it has exceeded this goal, and 50% of artists featured on the 2023/24 MPAC Presents season are artists of color.

Additionally, several of the artists supported in part by this funding are featured as part of MPAC’s newly announced Culture Collective, which is designed to celebrate and elevate the contributions of artists of color across a spectrum of artistic disciplines.

2023/24 Performances funded by the NEA include:
Cécile McLorin Salvant (January 27)
Dance Theatre of Harlem (February 14)
Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra (February 29)
Hubbard Street Dance Company (March 9)
MOMIX: Alice (April 11)

Complete information for the remaining shows on the 2023/24 season is available at www.MarcusCenter.org.

For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

About Marcus Performing Arts Center
A mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) brings high-quality arts and cultural programming to Southeastern Wisconsin. MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of the performing arts. Through multiple performance series, community events, and educational experiences, MPAC brings a diverse range of celebrated artists to the region. A fixture in Milwaukee for over 50 years, MPAC is proud to be part of the Milwaukee Theatre District as well as a dedicated War Memorial facility. Learn more at www.MarcusCenter.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.