Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts is a recipient of a grant of $15,000 to host the NEA Big Read in Mineral Point.
An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. Shake Rag Alley is one of 78 nonprofit organizations to receive an NEA Big Read grant to host a community reading program between September 2019 and June 2020. The NEA Big Read in Mineral Point will focus on “Citizen: An American Lyric” by Claudia Rankine in activities that will take place in April and May 2020.
“Together with our partners at the Mineral Point Public Library and Mineral Point School District libraries, we chose ‘Citizen’ from among more than 30 books for its use of poetry and art to explore the impact words have on concepts of identity and inclusion,” said Executive Director Sara Lomasz Flesch. “Next April’s National Poetry Month is a perfect time to showcase the importance and accessibility of poetry.”
Next April, the NEA Big Read: Mineral Point program celebrating “Citizen” will feature a kickoff event and keynote session, numerous book discussions at regional libraries, a film series, school programs, art making, art conversations and a poetry slam with open mic. Additional partners include the Multicultural Outreach Program and Mineral Point Opera House. The NEA Big Read grant will contribute to the costs of providing 1,000 free copies of “Citizen” and welcoming Rankine to Mineral Point for the keynote session.
For more information about the NEA Big Read, please visit arts.gov/neabigread.