Homestead National Monument of America Receives Grants

Date: May 5, 2011
Contact: Merrith Baughman, 402-223-3514

Homestead National Monument of America announced today that it has been awarded two grants by the Nebraska Arts Council. These two grants support the Monumental Fiddling Championship and Acoustic Band Contest, which will be on Saturday, May 28, 2011 and Homestead Days 2011, which will be on June 17-19, 2011. Nebraska Arts Council’s Executive Director, Suzanne Wise, commended Homestead National Monument of America for its programs, noting that “Homestead does an outstanding job of providing arts activities in Beatrice. It is through fine organizations like this that Nebraska’s children receive a better education in the arts, and the quality of life is improved for all Nebraskans.”

The Monumental Fiddling Championship and Acoustic Band Contest features a day of rousing music and fun-filled competition held at the Homestead Education Center. There is a total of $1000 in prize money thanks to the Leigh F. Coffin, Jane M. Coffin, and Leigh M. Coffin Foundation. Registration begins at 10 a.m. along with a free fiddling workshop. Competition starts at 2 p.m. Participants will be divided into Junior (less than five years experience) and Senior Divisions. Participants will be asked to play a hoedown, waltz and tune of choice. All music should be from the homesteading era of 1862 to when Homestead National Monument of America was created in 1936. First place winners in each category will receive a trophy and be able to choose either prize money or a new fiddle. Second and third place winners will receive a trophy and a cash prize. An evening concert of winners will follow the competition beginning at 7 p.m.

Homestead Days 2011 will remember the year 1936, the year the monument was established as a National Park Service site. Promising to be entertaining and informative, groups such as the Nebraska Czech Brass Band, the Homestead Harmonizers, presenters including Dr. Robert Cherny and David Landis as Senator George Norris, and musicians David Seay and David Fowler will fill the stage area in the Education Center courtyard. In addition, our 20 craft demonstrators will be inside and outside the Education Center, antique farm implements will be used in farming demonstrations on the prairie, and Model T and A will be parked and can be viewed at the Heritage Center.

The Nebraska Arts Council grants monetary resources to Nebraska’s nonprofit organizations for arts projects and programs in communities throughout the state. This financial support is made possible by funds appropriated by the Nebraska Legislature, through competitive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), a federal agency, and funds from the Nebraska Cultural Endowment (NCE). Nebraskans wishing to learn more about NEA grants or the NCE should visit the NAC website at www.nebraskaartscouncil.org.

Remember, Homestead National Monument of America has an exciting schedule of events planned for 2011. Keep up with the latest information by following us on Twitter (HomesteadNM) and Facebook (Homestead National Monument of America). For information on the Monument’s programs or activities, please call [phone] or visit www.nps.gov/home.

Homestead National Monument of America is a unit of the National Park Service located four miles west of Beatrice, Nebraska. The visitor centers' current hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. on the weekends. As of May 28th, summer hours will begin, hours of operation will be 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. Admission is free of charge. For additional information, please call 402-223-3514 or visit www.nps.gov/home.