News and Notes

For Immediate Release: January 14, 2024, 10:00 a.m. ET

CONTACT: Allison Hill, [email protected], 202-682-5037

National Endowment for the Arts Supports the Arts with

Nearly $36.8 Million in Funding Nationwide

Washington, DC—The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is pleased to announce 1,474 awards totaling $36,790,500 to support the arts in communities in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC. Funding for organizations is recommended in the categories of Grants for Arts Projects, Challenge America, Research Grants in the Arts, and Research Labs, and for individuals through Literature Fellowships in creative writing and for translation projects.

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place—those that address our past and help us consider our future, integrate arts and culture in new ways into our lives and communities, and provide powerful opportunities for people throughout our nation to come together through a shared arts experience.”

• View a state-by-state listings of the grants announced in this release.
• View a listing of awards by discipline / grant category
• All current grants and additional project details can be viewed through the recent grant search

Challenge America

Challenge America grants are awarded in all artistic disciplines and offer support primarily to small organizations for a wide variety of arts projects that extend the reach of the arts underserved groups and communities that may have limited access to the arts relative to geography, ethnicity, economic status, and/or disability. This includes communities that have limited grant funding opportunities and/or have been underserved by national arts funding; small organizations that may face barriers to accessing grant funding; and organizations that may benefit from enhanced technical assistance resources. This program is often an entry point for organizations that are new to applying for federal funding.

The National Endowment for the Arts reviewed 563 eligible applications for Challenge America funding this year, which were submitted in April 2024, and will award 272 grants for a total of $2,720,000. Each grant is for $10,000 and requires a minimum $10,000 cost share/match.

TEMPOart is thrilled to be recommended for a $10,000 Challenge America Grant to support our upcoming temporary public art commission at City of Portland’s City Hall Plaza to open in June 2025.

The next Challenge America application deadline is Thursday, April 24, 2025. Visit arts.gov for guidelines and application resources and register for the FY26 Challenge America guidelines webinar on Wednesday, February 27, 2024, from 3:00–4:00 p.m. ET.

We’re thrilled to share a year end message from TEMPOart board member Susan Lambe. With a rich career in public art, public space design, and creative placemaking, Sue brings a unique perspective to the importance of public art in our lives.

Thank you for your support!
TEMPOart

After a career in public space design, public art and creative placekeeping, I am so proud to support the work of TEMPOart.

I find TEMPOart’s work as a leader in public art, supporting the arts and culture ecosystem in Maine, highly inspirational, and I encourage you to make a gift to TEMPOart Portland this year!

Public art is a reflection of its place and time, and in this time when loneliness is at an all-time high across society, public art can promote social health, enhance personal wellbeing, and demonstrate civic vitality. Public art brings art directly to the people, inspiring conversation through a sense of curiosity, challenge, illumination, or delight. To some extent, every public art project is an interactive process involving artists, visual arts professionals, designers, community residents, civic leaders, elected officials, approval agencies, funding agencies, and fabrication teams, buoying Portland’s creative economy.

I encourage you to support TEMPOart, an essential arts nonprofit in Portland’s creative economy ecosystem and the only organization devoted to enlivening public space with temporary art available to everyone, every day, for free. As we continue this vital work, we thank you for providing the funding that makes everything we do possible.

Susan Lambe (she/her)
Board Member, TEMPOart
Public Art Consultant
Founding Member, Public Art Exchange

Thank you for reading Sue’s inspiring message. Please consider making a gift today to double your impact. Together, we can continue to bring free, temporary public art to Portland’s shared spaces.

Dear Friends,

As the year comes to a close, we wish you a season full of joy, reflection, and connection. On behalf of TEMPOart, we are grateful for your support in bringing public art to life here in Portland. Together, we’ve created opportunities for exploration, creativity, and community—none of which would be possible without you.

As we reflect on this past year, we are reminded just how transformative public art can be through our partnership with The Telling Room. At their Nature: Science, Art & Writing Camp, 16 young writers, ages 8-12, spent a week exploring Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People), the monumental installation by The Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein. Guided by teaching artist Amy Kimball, the campers wove art, science, and creative writing into a dynamic experience—resulting in some extraordinary reflections, including the first chapter of a story written by young writer Laura, age 11. Laura’s writing can be read below!

Thank you for being part of our vibrant community. Your support brings art into public spaces, fuels learning experiences for all ages, and inspires joy throughout Portland.

Wishing you a season filled with creativity and hope,

Meg Adams, Board Chair
TEMPOart

Star Dance, chapter one

Laura,  age 11

A small ray of moonlight shown through the bars of a bird cage. Two parakeets sat in the cage looking at the stars. 

“Tell me that story again, Mom,” the young parakeet chirped.

“Okay, one more time,” her mother laughed. And she began:

“Once there was a bird. Not just any bird, but a beautiful silver peahen. She was glorious and immortal, but lonely. No one would hear her for her feathers glowed too bright. Eventually her loneliness became too strong and she began to float. The higher she floated, the more lonely she became, and eventually she rose so high that she became the moon. She was finally happy, but she thought the night sky needed more light so she made the parakeets. The parakeets were glorious and colorful in life, but when one died it would become a star, not gone, just brighter and higher. They are grateful for the moon’s light so they dance, swirling and twinkling, forever dancing through the cosmos.”

The little bird looked at her mom. 

“Now go to bed, Cascade, tomorrow’s a busy day.”

Hi I’m Donna Dodson and I’m Andy Moerlein. We’re The Myth Makers. 

We are standing in front of Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People).

Thank you so much TEMPOart and Portland for bringing us here!

This piece does not have a bad picture. Thousands of instagram people, if you have not gotten your picture taken, please come by. 

We are so proud to be a part of Portland’s topography

Help Extend Dancing for Joy at Back Cove Trail this Giving Tuesday

Dear public art lovers,

We have an incredible opportunity to extend Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People), a stunning 20-foot bamboo sculpture by artists The Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein, through June 2026—but we need your help. A generous donor has offered to match the first $5,000 in donations toward this goal, which means your contribution can have twice the impact!

Dancing for Joy has brought joy to thousands along Back Cove Trail, transforming our  landscape and creating a gathering place that celebrates nature and creativity. With your support, we’ll continue offering free, public events around the sculpture – from hands-on workshops to family days and storytelling events in partnership with organizations like Portland Trails and Maine Audubon.

Your donation will help keep this magnificent artwork in Portland for another year. Together, let’s raise $10,000 by December 31, 2024!

To give, visit tempoartmaine.org/donate —and remember, every dollar you give will be matched!

Thank you for making Portland a more vibrant, creative community.

Did you know? Public art needs care and maintenance—even temporary works! Yesterday, artists Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein of The Myth Makers made some adjustments to one of the necks of Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People), the stunning 26-foot great egrets installed on Back Cove.

Public art like this isn’t just beautiful—it’s a symbol of creativity, community, and connection. We love hearing from so many of you who’ve said, “We hope it’s not going anywhere!” Your enthusiasm fuels projects like this and keeps Portland a hub for incredible public art.

Stay tuned… we have some exciting news about the birds coming soon! 🕊✨

Your Support Brings Public Art to Life!

This year has been one of incredible growth and transformation at TEMPOart, thanks to the Portland community and supporters like you. Together, we’ve commissioned Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People), a beautiful installation that has sparked dialogue, built community, and inspired our collective imagination. This installation will be enjoyed by over 250,000 visitors each year.

This installation is just one example of what’s possible with your support. Looking ahead, TEMPOart is preparing for an exciting new chapter—a long-term plan, a transition to a full-time Executive Director, and a fresh installation at City Hall Plaza in 2025! These milestones reflect our commitment to keeping public art accessible and engaging for everyone.

As we approach 2025, we invite you to be a part of our mission. Every donation helps us bring art to more spaces and more people, enriching our community with creativity, dialogue, and joy.

Ready to support the future of public art in Portland?

P.S. We can’t wait to see you at one of our 2025 events. City Hall Plaza—here we come!

A message from Posey/Pamela Moulton, about the next location for TEMPOart commissioned public art piece known as the beloved PINKIES!

Hello PINKIE FRIENDS!
Come help me welcome the PINKIES to  Freeport where they will live for the next year in front of Town hall! I have dedicated the last three months to the continued evolution of the beloved Pinkies!
They are now fully winterized and more charming and colorful than ever before!
I am excited for everyone to see how they have evolved- 
Naturally, if you have any pink clothing DO COME DRESSED IN PINK! I am bringing all my pink wearable creations to share! 
WHERE:  The event will begin in front of Town hall at 30 Main Street in Freeport 
WHEN:  Friday October 11th from 4:00 – 6:00 pm
The party will continue at the Oyster Bar across the street-
I hope you can make it!
xo Posey/pamela

We are thrilled to share this feature of “Dancing for Joy (By the Will of the People)” created by The Myth Makers, Donna Dodson and Andy Moerlein.

The collaboration between Dodson and Moerlein is born from a mutual love of the wild. Dodson takes inspiration from the mysterious nature of birds that spark her imagination. Moerlein takes inspiration from events in the natural world that leave visual marks and strike a narrative chord in the artist.

Although monumental in scale, these ephemeral works are temporary in nature. Made from natural materials, they are site specific, and respond to their local audience. Meaning to only last 3-5 years, they appear, fade, and disappear, adding a chapter to the life stories in their communities.