National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Chairman Rocco Landesman announced this week that the NEA plans to award 16 grants totaling $1,398,600 to Florida to organizations in the second round of fiscal year 2012 funding.

These grants support exemplary projects in arts education, dance, design, folk and traditional arts, literature, local arts agencies, media arts, museums, music, opera, presenting, theater, musical theater, and visual arts, and provide support to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations. Through these projects, the public will have increasing opportunities to engage with the arts, whether it's in a school, in the media, or in their community, making our cities, towns, and neighborhoods more vibrant places to live.

Chairman Landesman said, “The arts should be a part of everyday life. Whether it's seeing a performance, visiting a gallery, participating in an art class, or simply taking a walk around a neighborhood enhanced by public art, these grants are ensuring that across the nation, the public is able to experience how art works.”

Sandy Shaughnessy, Director of the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs added, “These NEA grants will help build a strong and vibrant Florida. Arts and culture make important contributions to our state’s economy, to tourism and job creation, and education for learners of all types and ages. It is exciting to see these Florida organizations partner with the NEA to achieve such important ends.”

To view a complete list of grant recipients, visit the NEA’s State Grants Listing for Florida.