MIAMI PUBLIC LIBRARY RECEIVES A NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS BIG READ GRANT

August 5, 2024—Ottawa County, Oklahoma—Miami Public Library is one of 62 organizations nationwide selected to receive a 2024-2025 NEA Big Read grant. A grant of $6,600 will support community reading discussions centered around the book “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck and other programs centered on the theme “Where We Live.” The program is set to commence in September 2024 and conclude in June 2025. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest, the NEA Big Read broadens our understanding of our world, our communities, and ourselves through the power of a shared reading experience.

“We are thrilled to have received the NEA Big Read grant from Arts Midwest and the National Endowment for the Arts,” said Callie Cortner, Director of Library, Arts, and Culture for the City of Miami, Oklahoma. “This grant provides an incredible opportunity for our community to engage deeply with The Grapes of Wrath. It allows the people of Ottawa County to share their thoughts on the book and discuss how it resonates—or doesn’t resonate—with our local experiences. Furthermore, it offers a platform for our residents to express their feelings about our community, share their personal stories, and preserve our collective histories. This initiative not only enriches our local cultural dialogue but also helps us document and share our narratives with future generations and those outside of Ottawa County.”

“The NEA Big Read brings the transformative experience of reading to an entire community,” said Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts. “This year’s grantees, Miami Public Library, are taking themes off the page and using creative programming to navigate difficult topics, explore new perspectives, and strengthen bonds between neighbors.”

The NEA Big Read offers a range of titles that reflect many different voices and perspectives, aiming to inspire meaningful conversations, artistic responses, and new discoveries and connections in each community. The main feature of the initiative is a grants program managed by Arts Midwest, which annually supports dynamic community reading programs, each designed around a single NEA Big Read selection.

“Using the captivating power of literature, NEA Big Read events unleash the creative spirit that resides within all of us,” said Torrie Allen, President and CEO of Arts Midwest. “We’re thrilled to support the work of grantees across the nation, including Miami Public Library, as they inspire conversations and artistic expressions through shared reading experiences.”

Beginning with a special announcement at the Miami City Council Meeting on September 16th at 6:00 PM. During this event, library staff will distribute copies of the selected book, including a limited number of large print and audiobook formats, to ensure accessibility for all community members.

The Big Read program will feature an array of enriching activities, including three distinct book discussions led by renowned speakers. Andrew Vassar, a returning scholar from Oklahoma, will explore the book from a literary and Oklahoma perspective. A staff member from the NEO A&M College Agriculture Department will provide insights from an agricultural viewpoint. Chief Glenna Wallace of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma will offer a unique tribal perspective. Additionally, creative writing workshops will be conducted by Jordan Boyd, Director of the Dobson Museum, with a focus on local and family histories. Rebecca Jim of the LEAD Agency will lead a workshop on environmental impacts in Ottawa County, and Wyandotte Tribal Citizen Lenzy Langford will guide a session centered on tribal stories and histories.

The Miami Public Library Youth Department will engage the younger generation by collecting stories and drawings from Ottawa County youth about their life experiences growing up in the area. These contributions will be compiled into a book, fostering a sense of community and shared history. Complementing the literary discussions, a screening of “The Grapes of Wrath” will take place at the Historic Coleman Theater on October 15th. Miami Little Theater’s Youth on Stage group will also perform an adaptation of “The Grapes of Wrath” on the Coleman stage in June. Toward the end of May, an open forum and Town Hall event will invite the public and all speakers to discuss the program and share their thoughts. Local artist and NEO A&M Art Professor Jessica Stout will incorporate feedback from all events to create a public mural with the theme “Where We Live,” which will be unveiled in June.

Since 2006, the National Endowment for the Arts has funded more than 1,800 NEA Big Read programs, providing more than $25 million to organizations nationwide. In addition, NEA Big Read activities have reached every Congressional district in the country. Over the past 15+ years, grantees have leveraged more than $57 million in local funding to support their NEA Big Read programs. More than 6 million Americans have attended an NEA Big Read event, over 100,000 volunteers have participated at the local level, and over 40,000 community organizations have partnered to make NEA Big Read activities possible. For more information about the NEA Big Read, including book and author information, podcasts, and videos, visit arts.gov/neabigread.

Miami Public Library (MPL) is the only public library in Ottawa County, Oklahoma. Established in 1921, Miami Public Library has adapted and grown alongside the local community. Miami Public Library’s mission is to entertain, inspire, encourage learning, and foster connections that enhance our community. MPL’s vision is to foster a welcoming environment where everyone is acknowledged, listened to, and embraced, while promoting equal knowledge access for limitless possibilities and community growth.

Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing equitable opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. Visit arts.gov to learn more.

Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates Midwestern creativity. We build community and opportunity across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Native Nations that share this geography, and beyond. As one of six nonprofit United States Regional Arts Organizations, Arts Midwest works to strengthen local arts and culture efforts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, state agencies, private funders, and many others. Learn more at artsmidwest.org.

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