FARMINGTON – National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced that Alice James Books is one of 832 non-profit organizations nationwide to receive an NEA Art Works grant.
Alice James Books, an affiliate of the University of Maine at Farmington and located on campus, is recommended for a $25,000 grant to support the publication, promotion, and distribution of six books of poetry in 2013.
The six 2013 titles supported by the grant are Matthew Olzmann’s Mezzanines (winner of the 2011 Kundiman Poetry Prize), Angelo Nikolopoulos’ Obscenely Yours, Tamiko Beyer’s We Come Elemental, Suzanne Parker’s Viral, Jamaal May’s Hum, and Jan Heller Levi’s Orphan.
“I’m proud to announce these 832 grants to the American public including, Alice James Books,” Landesman said. “These projects offer extraordinary examples of creativity in our country, including the creation of new work, innovative ways of engaging audiences, and exemplary education programs.”
Carey Salerno, AJB’s executive director, remarked, “We are so pleased by the NEA’s generosity and recognition this year; it’s tremendous! AJB is looking forward to publishing the incredible collections of our 2013 poets. This $25,000 grant will go a long way toward helping bring great poetry to the community. As we prepare to enter our 40th year in operation, we remain incredibly grateful for the NEA’s continued confidence in Alice James Books.”
In March 2012, the NEA received 1,509 eligible applications for art works requesting more than $74 million in funding. The 832 recommended NEA grants total $22.3 million, span 13 artistic disciplines and fields, and focus primarily on the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing works for the benefit of American audiences.
Applications were reviewed by panels of outside experts convened by NEA staff and each project was judged on its artistic excellence and artistic merit.
For a complete listing of projects recommended for Art Works grant support, please visit the NEA website at arts.gov.
Alice James Books publishes at least six books of poetry a year by both established and emerging poets. Books are chosen by the cooperative board via our annual manuscript competitions. In 2013, Alice James Books will celebrate its fourth decade, continuing to be—as Publishers Weekly writes—“one of the major forces in American poetry.”
