The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) has awarded the USA International Harp Competition $12,276 through the Arts Organization Support grant program. This grant is part of a broader initiative approved during the IAC's June 14 Quarterly Business Meeting, where funding recommendations were made for both the Arts Project Support and Arts Organization Support programs. A total of 338 organizations across 77 Indiana counties are receiving funding under these programs.
Anne Penny Valentine, Chair of the Indiana Arts Commission, highlighted the significance of these investments, stating, "All across Indiana we have seen the positive impact that investing in arts and creativity has on quality of life. Each of the projects and organizations selected to receive funding are doing exceptional creative work in and for Hoosier communities. The Commission is excited and honored to support the work these organizations are doing to engage the public, develop their communities, and encourage creativity across our state."
Joyce Claflin, Board President of the USA International Harp Competition, emphasized the transformative potential of the grant. "Receiving this grant allows USA International Harp Competition to continue to grow and inspire artistic excellence, encourage personal growth, launch careers, and create community between musicians and their audiences," Claflin noted.
Miah Michaelsen, Executive Director of the Indiana Arts Commission, elaborated on the broader impacts of arts funding. "Art and creativity foster connection and cohesion, support the entrepreneurial spirit communities need to thrive, and help build the kinds of communities where people want to live, work, play, study, and stay. In every corner of the Hoosier state, public funding for arts and creativity continually proves to be a high-return investment that positively impacts the cultural, economic, and educational climate of Indiana. It is a privilege to support the organizations building stronger Indiana communities through arts and creativity," Michaelsen said.
Funding for the Indiana Arts Commission and its programs is provided by the Indiana General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. The USA International Harp Competition aims to inspire, promote, and sustain artistic excellence while fostering a broader appreciation of the harp and its repertoire. By bringing people together through the universal language of music, the competition enhances international and community relationships through its harp competition, composition contest, concert series, and educational programs.
For more information about the USA International Harp Competition, visit https://usaihc.org.
