Congressional District: 4

Courtney Owens is a celebrated poet whose work has been featured in numerous literary journals and anthologies. Known for her ability to capture complex emotions and experiences in her writing, Owens will use her words to inspire young voices at Unity Elementary School, nurturing the next generation of poets.

Black Arts MKE’s Black Nativity celebrates the timeless work of Langston Hughes story of the Nativity retold through a combination of poetry, dance & song from an African American perspective, with a twist of being set in MKE & highlighting culturally relevant issues. Project includes: Community Night w/tickets 50% off, cast/crew talkbacks, FREE student matinees w/resources, ASL performance& more.

Just Below The Surface is an exploration of Chicago's Queer photographic history through the eyes of prolific photographers Diana Solis and Patric McCoy, whose work encapsulates Chicago’s Black and Brown LGBTQ+ communities throughout several decades. This exhibition will coincide with Chicago Art Departments 20th Anniversary and will be on view in person from September 14 - October 27, 2024.

Townsend is one of nine winners of the 2024 Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities. This award is designed to support accessibility in the arts and celebrate the exceptional work of disabled Midwestern visual artists.

After the positive response and public reception of our 2022 and 2023 NEA Big Read: Lawton events, we are excited to unite the community again through the reading of one book and through the hosting of multiple book discussions, as well as other activities and events inspired by the theme of where we live as depicted by The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir by Thi Bui.

ArtReach will work with semi-rural & exurban libraries and other multi-disciplinary partners to present NEA Big Read in the St. Croix Valley. A month of programs will evolve around Kevin Wilson's unpredictable novel "Nothing to See Here" where the children are literally fiery. It challenges us to reconsider neurodiversity, self-control and caregiving. "What happens when we walk into the fire?"

Inspired by Andrew Krivak's The Bear with its homage to earth, wilderness, and survival, our Big Read project will explore the theme of WHERE WE LIVE with programming that will honor our homeland of Lake County, California. With our community, we will explore our local resources, landscapes, and survival skills while turning to The Bear for meaningful discussions.

Prairie Cultural Commons is a non-profit that is dedicated to creating opportunities, equity, and understanding for High Plains communities through arts and culture. Rooted in the geographical terrain of the Colorado High Plains, Prairie Sea Projects', part of Prairie Cultural Commons, work reflects creative transformation of our regional landscape and rural communities.

The project will offer opportunities for the community to learn about disability and accessibility through programs, discussions, and engagement events centered on the book Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body. We will partner with community organizations to provide a showcase of events that unite the community in a shared literary and cultural experience.

Supporting theatre and Shakespeare instruction including performances by (and for) juveniles. Southwest Shakespeare is partnering with "Rite of Passage," (ROP), a nationwide non-governmental organization (NGO) with four facilities across Arizona.