Art Community

Congressman Kildee applauds federal funding for Flint arts organization

Featured photo: Tapology – Center Jason Samuels Smith l-r Lonnie McFadden – Tre Dumas – Maurice Chestnut – Joseph Wiggins-photo by Eric Dutro

WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee, Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, is applauding new federal funding to help Tapology, Inc., a Flint based performing arts organization, continue its mission to uplift communities through dance.  

 The $30,000 federal grant, awarded through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Grants for the Arts Project program, will help Tapology conduct a nationwide tour. Starting in Flint, Tapology’s performances and programs will showcase art forms with deep ties to America and the African Diaspora, including tap dance and jazz music. Tapology is a non-profit organization with 20 years of experience serving Flint, including through its annual Tapology Tap Festival in celebration of African American culture.

Featured photo: Tapology Youth Ensemble-Photo by Eric Dutro

“Mid-Michigan is home to amazing arts organizations, including Tapology,” Kildee said. “I am pleased that this federal grant will help enrich our community through dance and highlight the incredible talent Michigan has to offer nationwide,. In Congress, I will continue to work to bring federal resources to mid-Michigan to help our arts institutions continue to expand the ways they enrich our community.”

The tradition of call and response in African American culture is deeply connected to the need to release and heal, which is highly necessary during this tumultuous time of socio-economic and political upheaval,” said Tapology CEO Bruce Bradley.

“The Tour is a call to action, for a response to bring about a positive change in our world, through the use of an American artform,” Bradley added. “We appreciate the support of the arts endowment and Congressman Kildee and we hope this will encourage others to support us in our endeavors.”

 “The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts and cultural organizations throughout the nation with these grants, including Tapology, providing opportunities for all of us to live artful lives,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD.

“The arts contribute to our individual well-being, the well-being of our communities and to our local economies,” Jackson added. “The arts are also crucial to helping us make sense of our circumstances from different perspectives as we emerge from the pandemic and plan for a shared new normal informed by our examined experience.”

 Congressman Kildee continues to support efforts to increase community engagement in the arts. In January 2022, Kildee announced $25,000 in federal funds to support two Flint arts organizations to increase community access to culture, dance and theater. 

Congressman Dan Kildee

 The next Grants for the Arts Projects deadline is Tuesday, July 7, 2022. Those interested should visit arts.gov for guidelines and application resources and register for a Grants for Arts Projects guidelines webinar from 3 to 4 p.m. ET.  on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.

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