Eastern Washington University was recently awarded $17,025 to support “The Big Read,” a national program that brings communities together to read and discuss books. EWU was the only Washington organization to receive a Big Read grant in this, the fifth year of the program.

Eastern selected The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien, for its Big Read program. Events will take place throughout March and April of 2011, as part of the upcoming year’s Get Lit! festival.

In a July 10 announcement, IMLS (the Institute of Museum and Library Services) joined the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) in announcing a total of $1 million in grants to 75 not-for-profit organizations for hosting a Big Read project between September 2010 and June 2011.

What is The Big Read? A 2004 report by the NEA found that not only is literary reading in America declining rapidly among all groups, but that the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among the young. Big Read grants provide citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. This program is designed to restore reading to the center of American culture, for both pleasure, and enlightenment.

The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and in cooperation with Arts Midwest. Support for The Big Read has been provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, the Boeing Company, the Poetry Foundation, and the Ford Motor Company.

Congratulations to Eastern Washington University on applying for and receiving this award!