Caption: Representatives of the Johnston County Arts Council and the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield attended The Big Read National Orientation on June 8-9, 2008 in Minneapolis, MN. From left to right, Ruby Smith, Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield, National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Dana Gioia, and Jessica Meadows, Executive Director of the Johnston County Arts Council.

The Johnston County Arts Council and the Public Library of Johnston County and Smithfield today announced that they have received a $6,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to host The Big Read in Johnston County.

Johnston County is one of 208 communities nationwide to receive a grant to host The Big Read from September 2008-June 2009. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 23 selections from American and world literature. The Big Read in Johnston County will focus on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Activities will take place from January 31-February 28, 2009.

The latest Big Read grantees represent 46 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. To date, the NEA has given more than 500 grants to support local Big Read projects.

“As The Big Read grant is the first time Johnston County has received direct funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, we are both honored and excited to embark on what will become the Arts Council’s most ambitious and extensive program in the organization’s 36 year history, with the goal of reaching every Johnston County resident,” stated Jessica Meadows, Executive Director of the Johnston County Arts Council.

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