The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford will receive a $55,000 federal grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, announced Wednesday.

The funds will support the theater center's ability to host both the National Playwrights Conference and the National Music Theater Conference, which offer platforms for artists to gain experience and exposure.

The O'Neill Center will receive the federal grant award of $55,000 through the NEA's Grants for Arts Projects program. Through project-based funding, the federal Grants for Arts Projects program supports public engagement with, and access to, various forms of excellent art across the United States, the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life.

"Congratulations to the Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theater Center for going after and earning these competitive federal dollars," said Courtney. "Federal funding for community theaters through the NEA is highly sought after across the country – it takes hard work and a track record of success to successfully apply for these resources, and all the credit goes to the O'Neill theater's Preston Whiteway, Wendy Goldberg, and their team. There's been so much positive activity and growth in southeastern Connecticut lately, and while the good and expanding job opportunities are what attract people to our region, it's the beauty, culture, and sense of community that cause young to stay, and families to put down roots. The Eugene O'Neill Memorial Theater is a major part of the cultural fabric of our community, and it's great to see these new federal resources coming home to support their programming."

"The O'Neill is grateful for the NEA's ongoing support of the exciting and influential work being done in Waterford, CT, each summer," said O'Neill CEO/Producer Preston Whiteway. "The substantial award and continued recognition each year are clear votes of confidence in the O'Neill's mission: to discover, nurture, and develop new works and artists for the American stage. This grant ensures the O'Neill's capability to propel the next generation of American writers and composers."