Lawrence Arts Center, Spencer Museum receive NEA grants

Two Lawrence entities have announced that they received significant National Endowment for the Arts Art Works grants to further their missions.

The Spencer Museum of Art will receive $35,000 to support its commission of two internationally renowned artists — both Kansas University alumnae — who are creating a large-scale, site-specific installation inspired by the museum’s permanent collection. This marks the second consecutive year of Art Works funding for the exhibition, “An Errant Line: Ann Hamilton/Cynthia Schira,” which is scheduled to open March 2.

“We are delighted that the NEA has acknowledged the significance of these two artists of international stature who have deep associations with the University of Kansas,” museum director Saralyn Reece Hardy said in a news release. “Visitors who encounter this work will be inspired by the synergy of their creativity with the Spencer’s rich, historic collections.”

Also, the Lawrence Arts Center will receive $20,000 to support its visiting and resident artists program.

“This honor from the National Endowment for the Arts recognizes at the country’s highest level our commitment to putting artists at the center of our work in performance, exhibition and arts education,” said Susan Tate, the Arts Center’s executive director, in a news release. “The Arts Center’s visiting and resident artists funded by the NEA brings visual and performing artists from around the world to teach, make artwork and exhibit in Lawrence.”

The museum and the Arts Center received two of 832 such grants nationwide, chosen from more than 1,500 eligible applicants. Projects focus primarily on the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing work for the benefit of American audiences.