Harmony Project Awarded $50,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts

Los Angeles, CA (January 14, 2025)— Harmony Project is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Grants for Arts Projects award of $50,000.

This grant will support Harmony Project’s music education programming to its families in South Los Angeles. The NEA will award 1,127 Grants for Arts Projects awards nationwide totaling more than $31.8 million as part of the recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants.

Harmony Project teaching artist provides instruction to South LA student

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including Harmony Project.”

"Equitable access to music education is a fundamental right. We are deeply grateful to the National Endowment for the Arts for recognizing this need and partnering with us to break down barriers and provide opportunities for all," said Natalie Jackson, Executive Director of Harmony Project.

The grant will specifically support programming at Harmony Project locations in Exposition Park and Leimert Park.

Harmony Project Leimert Park Jazz Ensemble performing at concert

Harmony Project’s Exposition Park program operates at two sites: Manual Arts Senior High School and the EXPO Center, a City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks facility. It serves students ages 6 to 18 and has three orchestras, as well as wind and string ensembles.

Harmony Project’s Leimert Park program operates at Audubon Middle School, servicing middle and high school students. The site has a beginning band ensemble, drumline group classes, music production and piano classes.

About Harmony Project:

Harmony Project is a nonprofit that provides high-quality music instruction and social support to children year-round at no cost throughout community hubs in Los Angeles. As one of Los Angeles’ largest music education organizations, Harmony Project is dedicated exclusively to serving children from low-income families and under-resourced communities, Harmony Project envisions a world in which all students have equal access to opportunities to learn how to play music and the resources needed to thrive in college and beyond. Harmony Project’s holistic approach to student success has resulted in impressive outcomes with 98 percent of the graduating high school class accepted to a college or university during the 2023-2024 academic year.