The Colorado Symphony is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $20,000. This grant will support Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas, a free community concert at Boettcher Concert Hall on September 26, 2024. In total, the NEA will award 1,135 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling more than $37 million as part of its second round of fiscal year 2024 grants.
“Projects like Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas exemplify the creativity and care with which communities are telling their stories, creating connection, and responding to challenges and opportunities in their communities—all through the arts,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “So many aspects of our communities such as cultural vitality, health and wellbeing, infrastructure, and the economy are advanced and improved through investments in art and design, and the National Endowment for the Arts is committed to ensuring people across the country benefit.”
In collaboration with the Mexican Cultural Center, Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Américas is a unique, free concert celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month and Latin culture’s influence on sound in the Americas, showcasing a fusion of traditional, classical, and contemporary music augmented by the Colorado Symphony’s soaring orchestrations. 2024 marks the 8th installment of the Latin Beats series, signifying the longstanding relationship between the Colorado Symphony and Mexican Cultural Center.
“We’re thankful for the generous support from the NEA that will help enable the Colorado Symphony’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage and Latin culture to continue for years to come,” said Mark Cantrell, President & CEO of the Colorado Symphony. “This grant not only enriches our community but also ensures that music remains a unifying force, accessible to all. We’re proud of our longstanding relationship with the Mexican Cultural Center and together, we orchestrate moments of unity and inspiration, building community bridges through the universal language of music.”
“The Mexican Cultural Center is thrilled to be continuing our partnership with the Colorado Symphony on our Latin Beats Collaboration,” said Rachel Garcia, Executive Director of the Mexican Cultural Center. “Our collaboration includes cultural components combined with a symphonic repertoire. This concert is all about increasing a sense of belonging and cultural diplomacy as well as sparking joy within the Latino and greater community!”