The historic building at 140 W. Washington St. houses the Indiana Repertory Theatre, which has been aggressive in its pursuit of NEA funding over the past decade. (Frank Espich / The Star)

Once the centerpiece for the "culture wars" of the 1980s and early '90s, the National Endowment for the Arts has pumped millions of dollars into the local arts community.

In 2007 alone, Indiana received nearly $1 million in grants and other funding from the NEA.
Last week, it announced another $797,100 in grants to Hoosier arts organizations. The NEA awards two rounds of grants per year, in the spring and fall.

Two decades ago, however, the NEA was attacked for funding such controversial artists as Robert Mapplethorpe, whose work included sexually explicit images, and Andres Serrano, who used scatological portrayals of religious icons. The federal agency saw its funding slashed nearly in half in the mid-1990s.

But in the last dozen years or so, the NEA has rebounded in its support of the arts without attracting much rhetorical heat. And it has moved away from funding individual artists, instead providing money mostly to regional, state and local art agencies and groups.

Recipients of the latest grants include Indiana Repertory Theatre ($20,000) to stage Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" in partnership with Christ Church Cathedral, and Indiana Symphony Society ($35,000) to help composer Gabriela Lena Frank create an orchestral work for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra based on the experiences of Central American immigrants to Indiana.

"We did move away from (funding individuals). But that was primarily due to a lack of funding during what I call our devolution," said Patrice Walker Powell, deputy chairman for states, regions and local arts agencies for the NEA.

"It was during that period of '96 where we really had to make some tough choices about what we were able to continue funding."

After rising steadily during the 1980s, the agency's budget reached a peak of $175 million in 1992, but was cut to $99 million in 1996 and to $97 million in 2000. Over the past seven years, funding has slowly rebounded to $144 million for 2008. That's less than 50 cents for each American man, woman and child.

Perhaps the most aggressive local group in pursuing and receiving NEA funding has been the IRT.

"Since 1997-98, we've received 18 grants totaling $598,000," said the IRT's foundation relations officer, Katie Norton, who's in charge of grant writing.

The IRT has used the funding to stage Shakespearean plays, support theater classes and workshops, and commission plays by playwright-in-residence James Still.

Janet Allen, IRT artistic director, said the NEA "gives us money to do some things that are tougher to do." She said almost all of the theater's commissioning of new plays has come through federal funding.

"One of the things the NEA grant is, is a kind of ..... seal of approval in our business, in professional arts," she said. "It means national panels of experts look at our work favorably, and believe it compares favorably with institutions all over the country."

The largest single recipient of NEA funding in the state is the Indiana Arts Commission, which received $637,100 last year and another $735,900 this year.

According to the NEA's Powell, 40 percent of NEA funding is earmarked for state art commissions. This accounts for nearly 14 percent of the state commission's $4.7 million budget.

Lewis Ricci, executive director of the IAC, said the money is used for many purposes, including paying part of the salaries of four of his 12-person office. Most is distributed to local arts groups by the IAC. The commission does provide some funding directly to artists, but none of that comes from the NEA.

Ricci said arts groups use the federal dollars to leverage local funding and private donations, adding that the NEA helps create "an environment of accountability."

"What public funding really does for the arts is, it provides a bar that organizations have to rise above in terms of quality and accountability," Ricci said. "When you put public money into anything, you have to be accountable. We're accountable back to every taxpayer."

A look at recent Indiana grants from the National Endowment for the Arts:

Fort Wayne Dance Collective Inc.

Fort Wayne

$10,000

To support Advancing the Afrikan American-Mande Musical Cultural 8Forum. The project will support an artist's residency to teach traditional percussive arts and dance of Guinean culture.

Indiana Arts Commission

Indianapolis

$735,900

To support Partnership Agreement 8activities.

Indiana Repertory Theatre Inc.

Indianapolis

$20,000

To support pre-production and production of "The Crucible," by Arthur Miller, with accompanying community outreach activities. The theater will partner with Christ Church Cathedral to extend the impact of the play into various community gathering places.

Indiana Symphony Society Inc.

Indianapolis

$10,000

To support the production and distribution of the radio series "Indianapolis On-the-Air." Featuring the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, the 13-part series is heard on more than 250 radio stations.

Indiana Symphony Society Inc.

Indianapolis

$35,000

To support the Indianapolis Symphony 8Orchestra's (ISO) Nueva Vida (New Life) Project. Focusing on discussions and interactions with community members who recently immigrated to Central Indiana from Central America, composer Gabriela Lena Frank will create a new orchestral work based on these dialogues.

New Harmony Project Inc.

Indianapolis

$20,000

To support a new-play-development writers' conference. The annual two-week conference provides writers with an opportunity to develop scripts in a supportive community of professional directors, actors, dramaturges and support staff.

Tales & Scales Inc.

Evansville

$10,000

To support an educational outreach touring program. The ensemble will tour composer Scott Wheeler's "The Little Dragon" (story by Jay O'Callahan) throughout six counties of Indiana.

University of Southern Indiana

Evansville

$5,000

To support a festival celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Rope Walk Writers Retreat. Events will include a master workshop, a publishing symposium sponsored by the Southern Indiana Review and a nightly reading series open to the public.

Young Audiences of Indiana Inc.

Indianapolis

$15,000

To support Young-at-Arts, a multidisciplinary arts-education program. In partnership with the Day Nursery Association of Indianapolis, the project will provide age-appropriate arts activities for children (ages 3 to 6) and professional development training for their teachers.