[Irvine, CA]—In its first 50 years, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) awarded more than $5 billion in grants to recipients in every state and U.S. jurisdiction, the only arts funder in the nation to do so. Today, the NEA announced awards totaling more than $27.6 million in its first funding round of fiscal year 2016, including an Art Works award of $20,000 to Irvine Barclay Theatre to support the theatre’s Dance and Movement Portfolio.

The Art Works category supports the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement with the arts through 13 arts disciplines or fields.

NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, “The arts are part of our everyday lives – no matter who you are or where you live – they have the power to transform individuals, spark economic vibrancy in communities, and transcend the boundaries across diverse sectors of society. Supporting projects like the one from Irvine Barclay Theatre offers more opportunities to engage in the arts every day.”

“Accepting this prestigious award from the National Endowment for the Arts in support of our 2016 Dance and Movement Portfolio is one of the highlights of our year. We are so grateful and honored that the NEA has seen the merit in our work for the second year in a row,” notes theatre President, Jerry Mandel.

The Barclay’s Dance and Movement Portfolio features the presentation of extraordinary national and international artists including the Akram Khan-Israel Galvan dance collaboration Torobaka (England), Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in a program designed for Irvine Barclay Theater's 25th anniversary, Jessica Lang Dance, and Diavolo, with a week-long residency culminating in the premiere of L.O.S.T. In addition, the project will include a residency and work-in-progress showing of emerging local company, Backhausdance. The Portfolio will also feature world-renowned flamenco artist, Farruquito and cirque sensation Cirque Alfonse with TIMBER. Education and outreach activities will include master classes and discussions at schools and dance organizations. Additional activities will feature cross-disciplinary discussions with university students and faculty as a partner in University of California Irvine's Illuminations Arts and Culture Initiative, and lectures, special events, and social media activities for the public.

To join the Twitter conversation about this announcement, please use #NEAFall15. For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, go to arts.gov

Opened in 1990, Irvine Barclay Theatre has developed into one of California’s most imaginative performing arts venues. The 754-seat theater is operated by an independent nonprofit organization in an innovative public/private partnership with the City of Irvine and the University of California, Irvine. Over its nearly 25-year history, the theater has developed a reputation for wide-ranging programming in the fields of contemporary dance, music, and theater arts. Performances take place in Cheng Hall, renowned for its intimate atmosphere, excellent sightlines, and superb acoustics. www.thebarclay.org

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