Snipes Academy receives national recognition and $16K grant

WILMINGTON, NC (Press Release) — New Hanover County Schools is pleased to announce that the American Theatre Wing, best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards, is awarding the Snipes Academy of Arts and Design with a $16,000 Classroom Resource Grant from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Initiative.  Snipes was one of nearly 200 applicants and one of 14 award winners of the prestigious grant received across 40 states.

Snipes will use the $16,000 Classroom Resource Grant to purchase equipment for their theater program.  Support from the Initiative will allow for expansion of the theater program to produce work in a fully equipped space with working microphones, light, sound and expanded set design. The students will be able to perform quality shows with costumes while building their skills in theatrical design and performance.

“This recognition from the American Theatre Wing is a tremendous honor for our school,” said Rachel Manning, principal of Snipes Academy of Arts and Design. “We are extremely excited about the opportunities this will afford our students, as it will provide them with all the necessary materials to completely produce high-quality theatrical productions.”

With the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation’s help, the American Theatre Wing is investing in public schools to help drama teachers get more of the resources they need to provide quality drama instruction in their schools. Through this Classroom Resource grant-giving program, funding is provided directly to under-resourced public schools to provide instruments, dance floors, lighting grids, and other necessary materials to help create new and enhance existing theater programs.

“Arts education, and making theater available to all young persons, is vital to the growth of our culture and society. The grant proposals received this year have shown the widespread need for arts funding in primary and secondary schools across America. I am proud that we are now entering the second year of this program, and am excited for the years to come,” said Andrew Lloyd Webber.