National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) - The Big Read Grant

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) - The Big Read Grant

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