National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) - The Big Read Grant
Funding Amount
$11,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Annual
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Overview
Funder: National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in partnership with Arts Midwest
Award Amount: $11,500 (with additional $28,500 in private donations and in-kind efforts for total of $40,000)
Program Name: The Big Read
Geographic Scope: National program; Albion, Michigan selected as one of 77 cities nationwide and one of four in Michigan for 2016-17
Purpose: Bring communities together through shared reading experiences
Director: Jess Roberts, Associate Professor of English at Albion College
Duration: Month-long celebration (October 1 - November 1, 2016)
2016-17 Featured Book: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1952)
- About Guy Montag living in dystopian society that destroys books
- Protagonist begins by burning books but ends up protecting them
- Title from believed temperature at which paper burns
- Themes relevant to election year, modern information challenges, trust in media
Program Events & Activities:
- Opening parade and celebration in Holland Park
- Book discussions hosted by local organizations
- Student leaders (rising 8th-10th graders from Albion area) lead discussions
- Lectures by award-winning authors
- John Eller (Director, Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, IUPUI) - lectures and expertise
- Film series at Bohm Theatre
- Group discussions throughout community
Community Impact Goals:
- Community members share experience together
- Discuss shared experience with others
- Build understanding, empathy, and respect
- Improve relationships between community members
- Support young people and youth leadership
2015 Award: Also received NEA Big Read grant for 2015-16 season (second consecutive year)
Key Success Factors for Renewal:
- Youth leadership component (rising 8th-10th grade student leaders)
- Community collaboration
- Successfully engaged local organizations
- Value and empowerment of young people
Contact & Information:
- Website: albionbigread.org
- Social media: Facebook and Instagram pages
- Coordinator: Jess Roberts, Associate Professor of English
What Albion College actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2023 — the most recent filing with itemized grants
- Grants in 2023
- 1
- Total given
- $48K
- Median grant
- $48K
- By dollars: Michigan 100%. Top recipient cities: Albion, MI.
Example grants
Friends of the Bohm Theatre · Albion, MI
Support of local theater
$48K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Arts
- Nonprofits
- Youth programs
- Youth leadership
- Community services
Categories
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