NEFA's National Dance Project Announces New Hub Sites

(BOSTON – March 9, 2009) The National Dance Project (NDP), a program of New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), announces the appointment of three new Hub Site representatives for 2009-2012. NDP Hub Sites and Advisors guide all activities of the program which provides a national system of support for contemporary dance.

NDP Hub Sites are U.S.-based presenting organizations, represented by individuals with extensive knowledge of the dance field and demonstrated leadership in developing new dance work. The Hub Sites – up to 12 at any given time - serve three-year terms, and meet three times a year to review proposals, make funding recommendations, and guide program policy. The new Hub Site representatives serving from 2009 to 2012 are:

• Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, Margaret Lawrence, Director of Programming
• Scottsdale Cultural Council, Scottsdale, AZ, Cory Baker, Director of Performing Arts
• Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, Bridgette Kohnhorst, Cultural Programs

Full bios of all representatives can be viewed at: /grantprog/ndp/ndp_partners.html.

Said NEFA Executive Director Rebecca Blunk, "We welcome these leaders to our system of support for contemporary dance, and we'd like to thank the outgoing Hub Site representatives for their extraordinary care and counsel. They have been instrumental in shaping this vital program, and we're grateful for their many contributions." Outgoing Hub Sites, who have all completed 4 to 6 years of service, include Arizona State University (Scottsdale, AZ)) Director of Cultural Participation Michael Reed, DiverseWorks (Houston, TX) Co-Director Sixto Wagan, and Center for the Arts at Wesleyan University (Middletown, CT) Executive Director Pam Tatge.

NEFA's National Dance Project makes grants for dance production and touring which are generously supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the MetLife Community Connections Fund of the MetLife Foundation. The next deadline for Production Grant applications is April 1, 2009; visit www.nefa.org for more information and application instructions.

About NEFA
NEFA creatively supports the movement of people, ideas, and resources in the arts within New England and beyond, makes vital connections between artists and communities, and builds the strength, knowledge, and leadership of the region’s creative sector. NEFA is a 501 (c) 3 that operates with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New England state arts agencies, and from corporations, foundations, and individuals.

NEFA administers nine grantmaking programs that support the performing arts, public art, and Native American artists. NEFA also leads projects and initiatives that range from the analysis of the impact of the creative economy to the creation of online tools which link and advance the regional, national, and international cultural community. For further information about NEFA or NDP, please visit www.nefa.org or call [617] 951-0010 ext. 521.