The Texas Shakespeare Festival at Kilgore College has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support its 2026 season as part of the federal initiative Celebrating America250: Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes.
“As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the National Endowment for the Arts is honored to support communities across the country in recognizing the individuals whose contributions have defined our history,” said Mary Anne Carter, NEA senior adviser. “The Texas Shakespeare Festival plays a significant role in commemorating these heroes’ legacies while affirming the enduring role of the arts in shaping America’s future.”
The NEA was named a key partner in President Trump’s Executive Order 13978, Celebrating America’s Birthday, which calls for the establishment of the National Garden of American Heroes.
The National Endowment for the Humanities is supporting the design and creation of the statues that will make up the National Garden.
The 50 NEA-supported Arts Projects Honoring the National Garden of American Heroes will highlight notable individuals through a wide range of artistic disciplines nationwide.
For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit www.arts.gov/news.