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The Ringling Receives Three Grants Contact Name: Virginia Harshman Contact Email: virginia.harshman@ringling.org Contact Phone Number: 941-359-5700 IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sarasota, Florida- The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is pleased to announce that they are the recipient of three grants. The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded The Ringling $9,629 that will be used for a preservation assessment of the Ringling Museum of Art’s audiovisual storage area. The audiovisual collection documents the history, organization, and programs of the Museum and the life of John and Mable Ringling, as well as the history of the circus, Wild West shows and other arts entertainment. Highlights of the collection include two 1926 films shot at the Ringling house and museum and the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus lot; candid footage of performers and animals preparing for circus performances; side show and banner line scenes featuring marvels such as the bearded lady and strong man; and the King Charles troupe, who were the first African American performers with the Circus. The Ringling is also the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. This grant, for $30,000 will be dedicated to supporting a series of circus arts performances and related programming at The Ringling. Elizabeth Doud, Currie-Kolhman Curator of Performance said, “The NEA grant to support Women in Circus recognizes the unique confluence of the museum’s circus heritage and contemporary performance practice, while honoring the contribution of women to Circus Arts across the decades. Getting national recognition for the excellence the Ringling brings in these areas is an opportunity to draw greater attention to The Ringling as a center of circus thought and practice.” Additionally, The Ringling received a grant from the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), through the National Dance Project (NDP). The grant, in the amount of $4,000, will be used to facilitate the presentation of the work, An Untitled Love by Abraham in Motion. The performance will be presented as part of the Art of Performance series at The Ringling in the Historic Asolo Theater. This newest work by choreographer Kyle Abraham is part of an engagement that will include an artist talk for dance students, a masterclass for adults, a community reception and post-show Q & A for audiences. The company will be in Sarasota conducting activities with community and performing this outstanding work from Feb. 10-14, 2021. ### About The Ringling The Ringling is a center for art, history and learning situated on 66 acres on Sarasota Bay. It is built on the legacy of circus entrepreneur, collector of art and financier John Ringling and his wife Mable. The Ringling inspires visitors with an acclaimed collection of Old Master paintings, explores with them the diverse cultures and art of Asia, delights them with the story of the American circus, and transports them to the Roaring Twenties during a tour of the magnificent Ca’ d’Zan mansion. The Ringling is also committed to exhibiting the work of an emerging community of living artists that moves beyond traditional practice and features dynamic and engaging contemporary visual and performing arts, including a diverse roster of theater, music and dance. The Ringling is the State Art Museum of Florida. Affiliated with Florida State University, it is one of the largest university art centers in the nation. Media Contacts The Ringling: Virginia Harshman Manager, Marketing and Public Relations Virginia.harshman@ringling.org 941-359-5700 X 2803 ABOUT THE NATIONAL HUMANITIES ALLIANCE The National Humanities Alliance (NHA) is a nationwide coalition of organizations advocating for the humanities on campuses, in communities and on Capitol Hill. Founded in 1981, NHA is supported by over 200 member organizations, including: colleges, universities, libraries, museums, cultural organizations, state humanities councils and scholarly, professional and higher education associations. It is the only organization that brings together the U.S. humanities community as a whole.