WASHINGTON, DC.- Details of the Fiscal Year 2010 budget request for the National Endowment for the Arts were submitted to Congress as part of President Obama's FY 2010 budget. The President's budget requests $161.3 million for the agency, an increase of $6.3 million or 4 percent over the NEA's FY 2009 budget of $155 million. The proposed FY 2010 budget would allow for the distribution of approximately $133 million in grant awards to state and regional arts agencies as well as nonprofit arts organizations in all disciplines across the country to fund performances, exhibitions, tours, festivals, education programs, and other activities.

"This support will enable the Arts Endowment to bring high-quality arts and arts education programs to areas throughout the United States," said NEA Acting Chairman Patrice Walker Powell. "We are honored that the President recognizes that access to the arts strengthens both the cultural and civic life of our nation."

In recent years, the NEA and the arts community nationwide have been grateful for a series of NEA budget increases. The FY 2009 appropriation of $155 million represented a $10.3 million increase over the FY 2008 budget and will result in more than $128 million in grant awards. The 2008 budget of $144.7 million was $20.1 million higher than the 2007 funding level of $124.562 million and allowed for distribution of more than $119 million to support a wide variety of activities involving artists and audiences .

The NEA budget will be reviewed through the Congressional appropriations process with a final decision expected this fall.