July 29, 2005

The USA International Ballet Competition has recently been awarded an operating grant in excess of $20,000 from the Mississippi Arts Commission. This grant, which will be used in producing the 2006 competition, represents a portion of the $1 million in grants that the Commission will award in 2005-06.

“Competition among arts organizations for government dollars can be quite intense, as many groups depend on the support of government agencies such as the Mississippi Arts Commission and the National Endowment of the Arts,” said Sue Lobrano, executive director of the USA IBC. “We are honored that these agencies have consistently chosen the USA IBC for funding support, and we are dedicated to being good stewards of grant funds.”

MAC grants are made possible by continued funding from the Mississippi state legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. Danny McKenzie, Chairman of MAC, said $958,000 in grants
was awarded July 14; the remainder will be distributed during the fiscal year.

“Despite severe cuts to our grants budget over the past few years, citizens all over Mississippi continue to enhance their communities and schools with outstanding cultural programming,” McKenzie
said. “This statewide commitment to the public value of the arts is essential to Mississippi’s growth.

Communities continue to show that area festivals, artist residencies, after-school programs, musical and theatre performances, and arts programs service at-risk youth are vital to their children’s lives and education, as well as their area’s economic development.”

The USA IBC is a two-week “olympic-style” competition where tomorrow’s ballet stars vie for gold, silver and bronze medals; cash awards; and scholarships. Designated as the official USA Competition by a Joint Resolution of Congress and sanctioned by UNESCO, the USA IBC is held every four years, in the tradition of sister competitions in Bulgaria and Russia. The next USA IBC will be held June 17 - July 2, 2006, in Jackson, Mississippi.

The Commission is a state agency that serves more than 1.7 million Mississippians through grants that support programs to enhance Mississippi communities; assist artists and arts organizations; promote the arts in education and celebrate Mississippi’s cultural heritage. Established in 1968 by the Mississippi state legislature, the Commission is the official grantsmaking and service agency for the arts in Mississippi.