Higgins announces $30,000 in federal arts grants

Grants will benefit Canisius College and Just Buffalo Literary Center Inc.

Congressman Brian Higgins announced $30,000 in federal grants awarded to Canisius College and the Just Buffalo Literary Center. The grants, awarded though the National Endowment for the Arts' "Art Works" program, are intended to fund community-based art projects created by organizations that give people an opportunity to experience creativity and participate in the arts.

"Western New York has a dynamic, interactive arts community that we are very proud of," Higgins said. "Art has the power to bring communities and people together. These grants will help both Canisius College and the Just Buffalo Literary Center involve community members in the arts and provide Western New Yorkers and visitors with cultural activities year-round."

Canisius College will receive $10,000 through the NEA, which will help fund their Contemporary Writers Series. The series brings authors from around the world to Canisius to discuss issues such as ethics, justice, global awareness and service. Events are free and open to the community members.

To support its "LIT CITY" series, Just Buffalo Literary Center Inc. has been awarded a grant of $20,000. LIT CITY is a series of events, educational activities and services that aim to engage the public in the literary arts, draw new audiences to Western New York, and highlight poets and authors. Just Buffalo also will host a four-day literary arts festival, and produce a timeline and interactive map on Buffalo's literary history.

During this most recent grant announcement, the NEA gave 1,023 awards totaling $74,326,900 in grants to nonprofit organizations across the country.

The NEA was established in 1965, making this year its 50^th anniversary.