Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced the Arts Council for Chautauqua County and the Reg Lenna Civic Center has been awarded federal funding through the National Endowment for the Arts. 

“Art programs have a profound impact on a community’s quality of life and an individual’s personal growth,” said Congressman Higgins. “This funding will extend opportunities for local students to expand their education and training in a filed that could provide job opportunity and in addition the Reg Lenna program will draw people into the city creating excitement and delivering economic benefits to surrounding small business.”

The Arts Council for Chautauqua County received $14,000 to support the Jamestown High School Media Arts project (JMAP).  Through this program, media arts educators provide students with instruction in filmmaking, recording, broadcasting, and digital design throughout the school year.  JMAP is a multi-year project.  

The Reg Lenna Civic Center was awarded $20,000 toward the Chautauqua Grooves Project.  The program involves rhythm-based artists and ensembles in performances and workshop activities. The project will feature nationally known artists including: spoken-word performers Mayhem Poets, steel drummer and calypso performer Andy Narell, and Jim Donovan and Drum the Ecstatic.

The National Endowment for the Arts is a public agency dedicated to supporting excellence in the arts, bringing the arts to all Americans; and providing leadership in arts education. Established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government, the Endowment is the nation's largest annual funder of the arts.