Three Area Nonprofits Receive National Grants
DES MOINES, IA – Des Moines Metro Opera, Des Moines Performing Arts and the Des Moines Symphony were all named recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works grants. These grants are designed to support “artistically excellent projects that celebrate creativity and cultural heritage, invite mutual respect for differing beliefs and values and enrich humanity.”
Each of the organizations identified specific programs for the grants to benefit, including:
Des Moines Metro Opera – OPERA Iowa initiative
This 12-week music education tour brings opera and live performance into schools and communities across the region. Now in its 34th year, the OPERA Iowa program is comprised of 8 professional artists who present curriculum-based classroom workshops, masterclasses, aria recitals and fully-staged operatic performances to over 25,000 students each year. Des Moines Metro Opera was awarded a $15,000 grant.
Des Moines Performing Arts – 2020 Dance Series Engagements
Dance companies, Ballet Biarritz and Ronald K. Brown/Evidence will take to the Civic Center stage to share their unique perspectives on the artform in 2020. Each company will lead master classes for local dancers and host conversations before and after the public performances. Additionally, the Ronald K. Brown/Evidence Company will perform a student matinee performance and lead an open masterclass for community members with no previous dance experience. Des Moines Performing Arts was awarded a $10,000 grant.
Des Moines Symphony – Annual School-Day Youth Concerts
Taking place in March, the two-day series at the Des Moines Civic Center will host more than 5,000 Central Iowa fourth and fifth graders, introducing them to the instruments of the orchestra and iconic works of the symphonic repertoire. The Symphony Academy also provides educators with prepared, electronic, classroom ready lesson plans and teaching materials which align with participating school’s core curricula and give students the opportunity to interact with the music they hear. The Des Moines Symphony was awarded a $10,000 grant.
More information about the National Endowment for the Arts and the organization’s Art Works grants can be found here.
About Des Moines Metro Opera
Des Moines Metro Opera is a nationally recognized, progressive opera company committed to excellence, diversity and vitality in the performing arts. Founded in 1973, DMMO is one of the state’s largest performing arts organizations, annually producing over 100 performances around the state every season. Last year, 97,000 people experienced DMMO programming via its mainstage performances,
2nd Stages Series collaborations, educational programming initiatives and statewide television and radio broadcasts. DMMO’s 2020 Season includes Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Rameau’s Platée,
Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades, Poulenc’s The Human Voice and Spears/Pierce’s Fellow Travelers. For more information, visit DesMoinesMetroOpera.org or call 515-961-6221.
About Des Moines Performing Arts
Des Moines Performing Arts is a private not-for-profit organization celebrating 40 years of presenting the performing arts to Iowa and the surrounding states on four stages in Des Moines – the Civic Center, the Stoner Theater, the Temple Theater and the newly renovated outdoor space, Cowles Commons.
DMPA is a presenter of major Broadway and educational touring companies, performers, groups, and is home to many local and regional groups, including the Des Moines Symphony. All performances in the Broadway Series are supported by Willis Automotive. All performances at the Temple Theater are supported by Prairie Meadows. All performances of the Family Series are supported by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. For more information, visit DMPA.org.
About the Des Moines Symphony
The Des Moines Symphony is a not-for-profit, professional orchestra formed in 1937 to enrich, educate and inspire the community by performing great orchestral music. The Symphony Association, governed by a volunteer Board of Trustees and operating on an annual budget of more than $4.2 million, supports the Symphony Academy and its numerous music education programs including four youth orchestras, and supports the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra which performs seven pairs of Masterworks concerts, a Pops series including the traditional New Year’s Eve Pops, education, outreach and family concerts, and other special events in its home at the Des Moines Civic Center. The organization also produces and performs the Des Moines Symphony’s annual Yankee Doodle Pops concert in July on the grounds of the Iowa State Capitol, which attracts more than 100,000, the largest single day attendance of any concert event in the State.