With the assistance of U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, the Ohio Arts Council, in partnership with Arts Council Lake Erie West, has created the Black Swamp Rural Arts Initiative in Northwest Ohio. The initiative will strengthen arts programs in the smaller towns of Lucas, Wood, Ottawa and Fulton counties, benefiting as many as 20 local arts councils with $247,500 in federal funds secured by Kaptur.

 "I am pleased to be a part of returning tax dollars to Northwest Ohio's arts community to further enhance the rich cultural expressions of our region," Kaptur said. "We are fortunate to have the Ohio Arts Council and Arts Council Lake Erie West at our side in this effort." 

Funds for the program come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Economic Development Initiative and will be administered through the Ohio Department of Development. Northwest Ohio arts organizations will use the federal funds to become catalysts for local economic and community development. The Ohio Arts Council will invest an additional $75,000 in the project. (CONT'D PAGE 2)

FALL FBI TOUR WILL FEATURE VIVA QUETZAL

Viva Quetzal, a musical group that combines traditional instruments from South America with rhythms from Peru, Chile, Cuba, West Africa and the United States, will make a two-week tour of faith based institutions in Ohio this fall, sponsored by the Ohio Arts Council in partnership with Ohio Arts Presenters Network. 

Performances will be in New Albany, Columbus, Athens, Ashtabula, Lorain, Cleveland, Defiance, Springfield, Dayton and Oxford, November 1-14; most are free.

Viva Quetzal, named after a Central American bird, is a seven-member group that plays an eclectic mix of traditional, folkloric and pop themes on ancient and modern instruments. They emphasize the major cultural influences that have shaped modern Latin music indigenous, West African, Iberian and North American.

The musicians play more than 30 instruments to create the unique musical textures of the many lands and cultures of the Americas. The diversity  (CONT'D PAGE 3)