Back Stage has a (slightly) heartening article by Nicole Kristal (4/3/08) about the 14% increase in support from the National Endowment for the Arts for rural theaters over the last five years through the Challenge America: Reaching Every Community Fast-Track Review Grants program. The NEA has slowly but steadily demonstrated an effort to support art outside of urban hubs, says Kristal. "There has been a lot of encouragement from Congress to be aware of that national commitment, and I think that there's always been an understanding that the agency should seek ways to be as broad in its support as it can be," said Bill O'Brien, director of theater and musical theater for the NEA. Small theater companies in rural areas also are garnering NEA grants through the Access to Artistic Excellence program, in which they compete with major theaters in New York and Chicago for funds. She profiles some rural theaters, including Roadside.

Federal Support Grows for Rural Theatre Companies

   

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