National Endowment for the Arts Awards 'Celebrating the Nation’s 250th Birthday with Music from U.S. Military Bands” Grants

Washington, DC-As the nation prepares to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded 33 grants ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 to support public-facing arts projects featuring performances and educational programming with U.S. military bands.

Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts Mary Anne Carter said, "As we approach America's 250th anniversary, the National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support projects that celebrate the enduring legacy of U.S. military bands. These awards recognize the vital role military bands have played throughout American history-from the nation's earliest days to the present-as powerful symbols of national identity, bringing music to public life and honoring service through a wide range of musical styles and traditions."

Military bands have long reflected the spirit of the United States through a rich range of musical styles-from marching and orchestral to vocal and jazz. With more than 250 ensembles performing nationwide, they serve communities of all sizes through ceremonial, educational, and public performances. In recognition of their musical excellence and service to the nation, the musicians of the U.S. military were collectively awarded the 2019 National Medal of the Arts, the country's highest honor for artistic achievement.

These projects will take place in communities nationwide in the lead-up to and during this historic milestone and include a wide range of activities, such as free public concerts, community performances, educational residencies, and large-scale civic events featuring military bands from the Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard, and Reserve components.

Projects include:

• Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, will present a free public jazz concert in Washington Square by the Veteran Jazz Quintet, composed of U.S. military veteran jazz musicians from the Philadelphia region. The event highlights 250 years of American civic and jazz traditions and includes a guided walking tour on Philadelphia's musical history.
• Hoyt Sherman Place Foundation in Des Moines, Iowa, will present a free outdoor concert by the 34th Army Band of the Iowa National Guard featuring patriotic, classical, and popular American music. The program includes educational activities for children and contextual commentary on the music.
• Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción in Boston, Massachusetts, will present performances and educational programming with the U.S. Army Reserve 78th Army Band's Latin/Afro-Cuban ensemble, Liberty Vibes, at Festival Betances in celebration of the contributions of Puerto Ricans to American art and culture. Prior to the concert, the band will participate in a conversation and musical presentation on the legacy of Puerto Rican composer and U.S. Army Veteran Rafael Hernández.
• Intrepid Museum Foundation in New York, New York, will present a large-scale series of performances featuring the United States Marine Band and U.S. Coast Guard Band, as part of the Sail4th 250 celebration. Events include concert presentations, ceremonial welcome performances for visiting service members, and pop-up ensemble performances.
• University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma,will present performances by U.S. Army band ensembles as part of Oklahoma A+ Schools events, including a brass quintet and a woodwind ensemble at the Fall Fellows Forum. The program highlights the history and heritage of military bands and includes educational presentations, watercolor workshops inspired by the music, and a public exhibition of participant-created artwork.

See the full list of grants

Learn more about how the National Endowment for the Arts is celebrating the nation's 250th birthday on our website.