Credo Receives Second NEA Grant
Oberlin residents and local non-profits have come to expect the free outreach concerts and community service projects performed every July by the talented young participants of the Credo Chamber Music festival. Last year, Credo's work in the community was recognized on a national level with its first grant from the National Endowment of the Arts. On April 22nd, NEA's chairman Rocco Landesman announced that Credo is among this year's 950 arts organizations to receive an Access to Artistic Excellence grant, with an award of $8,200.
"Like everyone else, SMI-Credo is feeling the effects of a down economy," says Peter Slowik, Credo's Artistic Director and String Division Director at the Oberlin Conservatory. "In times like these, the arts are often seen as superfluous, and funding can be limited. But this narrow view fails to consider how important—even necessary—the arts are to the human condition. Credo's musical outreach targets people who face trying circumstances—the elderly in nursing homes and hospitals, families living in low-income housing projects—and brings a positive, uplifting experience to them, one that many take for granted. We are thrilled to partner with the NEA to continue this important work."
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable — if there is anything excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8