Spartanburg Philharmonic to Receive $25,000 Award from the National Endowment for the Arts
DATE: Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 10:00 am ET
CONTACT: Chandler Crawford, Marketing & Audience Experience Manager | chandler@spartanburgphilharmonic.org
[Spartanburg, SC]— Spartanburg Philharmonic is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $25,000. This grant will support a new composition by Peter B. Kay, inspired by the moons in our solar system, to complement a performance of Holst’s “The Planets,” and celebrate the community grand opening of a new planetarium. The NEA will award 1,127 Grants for Arts Projects awards nationwide totaling more than $31.8 million as part of the recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants.
“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including Spartanburg Philharmonic’s performance of ‘The Planets.’”
"We are incredibly honored to receive this generous grant from the NEA. It empowers us to continue creating meaningful musical experiences and bringing innovative programs to our community. This support is a testament to the value of the arts in enriching lives and building connections." — Kathryn Boucher, Executive Director of the Spartanburg Philharmonic
The Spartanburg Philharmonic’s multimedia concert will be a historic celebration of music, poetry, and visual art, marking the grand opening of the new $5MM planetarium at the Spartanburg County Public Library. Alongside Holst’s “The Planets” with stunning NASA imagery, Composer in Residence Peter B. Kay will premiere a new work inspired by selected moons in our solar system and featuring poetry by local K-12 students.
In a special collaboration with area schools, students will research moons and compose poems, with selected pieces serving as inspiration for Kay’s composition. Winning poets will be honored at the concert, where their poems will be presented, and they will be featured in concert programs and promotional materials.
To further engage the community, the Spartanburg County Public Libraries will host a free public program in partnership with the Philharmonic and NASA Solar System Ambassador David Leaphart. This program will explore the artistic and scientific connections between the solar system and music, offering insights into Holst’s work, modern discoveries, and Kay’s creative process.
A video featuring interviews, live performance highlights, and NASA imagery will be produced and premiered at the Spartanburg Planetarium. It will also be shared with other planetariums nationwide, extending the impact of this unique project.
Through music and collaboration, the Spartanburg Philharmonic continues to inspire and connect the community in innovative ways.
For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.
# # #