WASHINGTON — Congressman Dan Kildee, chief deputy whip for the House Democratic Caucus, applauds new federal funding to help Tapology, Inc., a Flint-based performing arts organization, continue its mission to elevate the communities through dance.
The $30,000 federal grant, awarded through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Arts Project Grant program, will help Tapology tour nationally. Beginning in Flint, Tapology’s performances and programs will showcase art forms deeply connected to America and the African Diaspora, including tap dancing and jazz music. Tapology is a non-profit organization with 20 years of experience serving Flint, including through its annual Tapology Tap Festival celebrating African American culture.
“Mid-Michigan is home to amazing arts organizations, including Tapology. I am pleased that this federal grant is helping to enrich our community through dance and showcasing the incredible talent Michigan has to offer nationally,” said Congressman Kildee. “In Congress, I will continue to work to bring federal resources to Central Michigan to help our arts institutions continue to expand the ways they enrich our community.”
“The tradition of call and response in African American culture is deeply connected to the need for liberation and healing, which is sorely needed in this tumultuous time of socio-economic and political upheaval. The Tour is a call to action, for a response aimed at bringing positive change to our world, through the use of an American art form,” said Bruce Bradley, CEO of Tapology. “We appreciate the support of the Arts Endowment and Congressman Kildee and hope this will encourage others to support us in our efforts.”
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts and cultural organizations across the country with these grants, including Tapology, providing us all with the opportunity to live an artistic life,” said NEA President Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “The arts contribute to our individual well-being, to the well-being of our communities and to our local economies. The arts are also essential in helping us make sense of our situation from different perspectives as we emerge from the pandemic and plan for a shared new normal informed by our examined experience.
Congressman Kildee continues to support efforts to increase community engagement in the arts. In January 2022, Kildee announced federal funding of $25,000 to support two Flint arts organizations to increase community access to culture, dance, and theater.
The next Arts Project Grants deadline is Tuesday, July 7, 2022. Interested individuals should visit arts.gov for application guidelines and resources and register for a Webinar on Arts Project Grants Guidelines on Tuesday, July 7, 2022. Wednesday, May 25, 2022, from 3 to 4 p.m. ET.
