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Scotch Plains Library one of 78 Organizations Awarded Big Read Grant
Tuesday, July 10, 2012 • 3:21pm
SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ—Scotch Plains Public Library today announced that it has received a grant of $5,000.00 to host The Big Read for Scotch Plains and neighboring communities.
A sneak preview of the program was given Monday evening at the Artist reception for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Poster exhibit.
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture and is managed by Arts Midwest.
Scotch Plains Public Library is one of 78 not-for-profit organizations to receive a grant to host a Big Read project between September 2012 and June 2013. The Big Read in Scotch Plains will focus “In the Time of the Butterflies,” by Julia Alvarez. Activities will take place in May and June of 2013, with lead-up programs and events occurring from October 2012 through April 2013.
“We are enthusiastic about the opportunities for reading, discussion, entertainment and community involvement the Big Read affords. We are proud to partner with the Scotch Plains – Fanwood School District, Literacy Volunteers of Union County, Inc., New Jersey City University, and the Friends of the Scotch Plains Public Library, to offer musical events, lectures, book discussion groups, including interaction with Julia Alvarez, and classroom involvement with several of Julia Alvarez’s works,“ said Library Director Meg Kolaya.
NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said, “At the NEA we know that the arts can help to create strong, vibrant communities by bringing people together. Through The Big Read, these 78 organizations are giving their communities the opportunity to share both great works of literature and memorable experiences."
The Big Read provides communities nationwide with the opportunity to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 31 selections from U.S. and world literature. The 78 selected organizations will receive Big Read grants to promote and carry out community-based reading programs featuring activities such as read-a-thons, book discussions, lectures, movie screenings, and performing arts events. Participating communities also receive high-quality, free-of-charge educational materials to supplement each title, including Reader’s, Teacher’s, and Audio Guides, which also are available for download on neabigread.org.
For more information about The Big Read please visit neabigread.org.
For more information about Scotch Plains Public Library please visit www.scotlib.org.
The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector. To join the discussion on how art works, visit the NEA at arts.gov.
Arts Midwest promotes creativity, nurtures cultural leadership, and engages people in meaningful arts experiences, bringing vitality to Midwest communities and enriching people’s lives. Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest connects the arts to audiences throughout the nine-state region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. One of six non-profit regional arts organizations in the United States, Arts Midwest’s history spans more than 25 years. For more information, please visit artsmidwest.org.
