Higgins announces National Endowment for the Arts grants awarded

Congressman Brian Higgins announced the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded grants to the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the University at Buffalo Center for the Arts.

"I am proud of Western New York's thriving arts community," Higgins said. "At a time when so many arts organizations face the threat of funding cuts, it is encouraging to see support for these programs that do so much to enrich our region."

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra has been awarded $15,000 to support the world premiere and recording of a new work by composer Miguel del Aguila.

The UB Center for the Arts has been awarded $20,000 to support the Arts in Healthcare Initiative. This initiative brings local artists into Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo and Roswell Park Cancer Institute to offer artistic programming to patients.

These organizations were among 900 organizations in 47 states to receive more than $23 million in funding from the first round of fiscal year 2014 grants. On average, NEA grants generate $9 from non-federal sources for every $1 awarded.

Higgins recently stood with local arts organizations against a proposed 50 percent cut to funding for the National Endowment for the Arts.