New York, New York, February 7, 2018—The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced today awards totaling more than $25 million in its first funding round of fiscal year 2018, including an Art Works award to Words Without Borders to support its flagship online magazine of international literature.

The Art Works category is the NEA’s largest funding category and supports projects that focus on the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, public engagement with diverse and excellent art, lifelong learning in the arts, and/or the strengthening of communities through the arts.

NEA Chairman Jane Chu said:

“It is energizing to see the impact that the arts are making throughout the United States. These NEA-supported projects, such as this one to Words Without Borders, are good examples of how the arts build stronger and more vibrant communities, improve well-being, prepare our children to succeed, and increase the quality of our lives. At the National Endowment for the Arts, we believe that all people should have access to the joy, opportunities, and connections the arts bring.”

“We are thrilled to be among the organizations awarded funding from the NEA this year, and proud to have been a NEA grantee throughout our fifteen-year history,” said WWB executive director Karen M. Phillips. “This award affirms that international literary narratives continue to be of great value in the US, exposing us to perspectives that deepen our connection to the wider world.”

With the support of the NEA, Words Without Borders will publish issues of its digital magazine of literature in translation dedicated to new writing from Lebanon, Argentina, Hungary, Georgia, Macau, and elsewhere. Its online education program, WWB Campus, will expand to offer students and educators access to more eye-opening world literature and curricular resources. And the organization will organize public readings and discussions with international writers and translators in New York City. These programs will continue to be made available free of charge.

For more information on projects included in the NEA grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.

WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that fosters cultural understanding through the translation, publication, and promotion of international literature. To date WWB has translated over 2,400 pieces of literature and poetry from 133 countries and 113 languages. In 2014, WWB created WWB Campus, an online education initiative designed to bring contemporary international literature into high school and college classrooms.

For additional information, please contact:
Contact: Savannah Whiting, Communications Coordinator
Email Address: press@wordswithoutborders.org
Website Address: www.wordswithoutborders.org
Twitter: @wwborders