BOSTON, July 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) announced today that it has received a $250,000 award from MetLife Foundation to support the MetLife Community Connections component of NEFA's National Dance Project (NDP). During the 2008-09 season, MetLife Community Connections (http://www.nefa.org/grantprog/ndp/metlife.html) will support 43 engagements that feature six NDP projects (up from 39 engagements and five projects last year) with community engagement activities, including workshops, master classes, and collaborations with local schools throughout the United States.

"We are proud to renew our partnership with NEFA to provide additional resources to support community programs nationwide in connection with NDP tours," said MetLife Foundation President Sibyl Jacobson. "We commend NEFA for its commitment to connecting choreographers and dance companies to diverse communities across the country."

NDP artists are selected annually from a range of established and emerging talent. To date, NDP grants have supported more than 200 new dance works involving more than 300 presenters of dance in 3,700 performances and 6,000 community activities.

The featured artists for the MetLife Community Connections program are David Rousseve/REALITY (Los Angeles); Ragamala Music and Dance Theater (Minneapolis); PHILADANCO (Philadelphia); Joe Goode Performance Group (San Francisco); Pat Graney Company (Seattle); and Gesel Mason Performance Projects (Washington, D.C.). View the full release at http://www.nefa.org/about/documents/080723_NDP_MetLifeAwardPR8.pdf.

About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to carry on its longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants are made to support health, educational, civic and cultural organizations and programs throughout the country. Recognizing the vital role the arts play in building communities and educating young people, MetLife Foundation contributes to the arts and culture by focusing on increasing opportunities for young people, reaching broader audiences through inclusive programming and making arts more accessible for all people. For more information about the Foundation, please visit its web site at http://www.metlife.org.

About New England Foundation for the Arts
NEFA creatively supports the movement of people, ideas, and resources in the arts within New England and beyond, makes vital connections between artists and audiences, and builds the strength, knowledge, and leadership of the region's creative sector. NEFA is a 501 ( c ) 3 that operates with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New England state arts agencies, and from corporations, foundations and individuals.

NEFA administers ten grant-making programs that support the performing arts, public art, and Native arts. NEFA is also actively involved in ten projects and initiatives, ranging from the research and analysis of the impact of the creative economy to the creation and administration of resources and online tools, which link and advance the regional, national, and international cultural community. For more information, please visit http://www.nefa.org or call [617] 951-0010.

Additional funds for NDP are provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Australia Council for the Arts.

MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. MetLife and MetLife Foundation have invested more than $15 million for Alzheimer's research and public information programs, including $10 million through the Awards for Medical Research program. Working with the Alzheimer's Association, the Foundation has supported caregiving videos, resources for the Hispanic community and the Safe Return identification program, which addresses the problem of senior wandering. The Foundation has expanded its focus on aging issues, including helping people remain physically and mentally fit and remaining engaged in the community. It also supports programs addressing issues of caregiving, intergenerational activities and volunteer opportunities. Grants support health, education, and civic and cultural programs. More information about MetLife Foundation is available at www.metlife.org.

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