February 4, 2021

DENVER – The Newman Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) at the University of Denver received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. This financial aid will be directed at presenting NCPA’s Virtual Season to ensure arts engagement in the Colorado community, while in-person events remain postponed.  

As a result of pandemic cancellations and restrictions, NCPA has pivoted to a virtual 2020-2021 season. “By presenting a virtual season, NCPA will connect the Denver community to artists that are the hallmark of Newman Center Presents and remain relevant to arts lovers across the community,” Aisha Ahmad-Post, Executive Director of the Newman Center for the Performing Arts.  Maintaining this connection with patrons and community members is imperative and these virtual performances will help to generate excitement for a future re-opening at Newman Center and bring much needed arts engagement to the community. 

The four artists on NCPA’s virtual season are: 

• Boston Brass in pre-recorded virtual performance with live Q&A. We will also offer a virtual masterclass for high school or college-aged students. 
• Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol in 3 livestreamed performances. Widely regarded as leaders in puppetry, Manual Cinema produced this new work specifically for virtual distribution. 
• Paul Taylor Dance Company in pre-recorded virtual performance, virtual masterclass for advanced/preprofessional dancers and live Q&A. The company was originally scheduled to perform at Newman Center in January 2021. 
• Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra in pre-recorded virtual performance, virtual masterclass for University students and virtual meet and greet with jazz legend Wynton Marsalis for select donors. JLCO was originally scheduled to perform in February 2021. 

This virtual programming will be ticketed on a “pay what you can” model to offset a portion of the cost and keep access affordable for all. Newman Center believes this is crucial to uphold their vision of being a multi-disciplinary arts venue that provides innovative, diverse and thought-provoking performance and education opportunities, and enables the community to remain engaged, inspired, and connected through the performing arts.

The National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) grant was made possible as part of the $75 million appropriated to NEA through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to preserve jobs and help support organizations forced to close operations due to the spread of COVID-19. On July 1, the Arts Endowment announced that 855 organizations —located in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico—will receive a total of $44.5 million in nonmatching funds to support staff salaries, fees for artists or contractual personnel, and facilities costs.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts is the only arts funder in America—public or private—that provides access to the arts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Each year, they award thousands of grants to provide all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation. NEA award cost/share matching grants to nonprofit organizations for a wide variety of arts projects, literature fellowships for published creative writers and translators, and Partnership Agreements with the 62 state/jurisdictional arts agencies and regional arts organizations.

The Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts University of Denver
2344 East Iliff Avenue
Denver, CO 80210 

About the Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts 

Opened in 2002, the Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Denver is a multi-disciplinary arts venue that provides innovative, diverse, and thought-provoking performance and education opportunities, enabling the Denver and Colorado community to be engaged, inspired, and connected through the performing arts. The Newman Center is home to the Lamont School of Music, DU Theatre Department, the Newman Center Presents series, over 150 hosted events, and approximately 500 performances each year. More information can be found online and on Facebook.

About the University of Denver 

Founded in 1864, the University of Denver is committed to engaging with students in advancing scholarly inquiry, cultivating critical and creative thought, and generating knowledge. The University strives to educate the 21st-century citizens and leaders needed in its organizations and communities. For additional information, visit the University’snewsroom or follow the University on Facebook and Twitter.