Turkish & International Music Ensemble, Inc. to Receive $10,000 Challenge America Award from the National Endowment for the Arts

New York, NY—Turkish & International Music Ensemble, Inc. (TIME) is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for a Challenge America award of $10,000. This grant will support TIME’s Hidirellez Project. The NEA will award 272 Challenge America awards nationwide totaling $2,720,000 as part of the recent announcement of fiscal year 2025 grants.

“The NEA is proud to continue our nearly 60 years of supporting the efforts of organizations and artists that help to shape our country’s vibrant arts sector and communities of all types across our nation,” said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “It is inspiring to see the wide range of creative projects taking place, including Turkish & International Music Ensemble’s Hidirellez Project.”

“Hidirellez is a traditional spring festival celebrated mainly in Turkiye and across the Balkans and the Middle East, characterized by songs, traditions, dances, and stories. It marks the arrival of spring, symbolizing renewal and the awakening of nature, making it a universal celebration. Hidirellez provides a wonderful opportunity to honor our shared cultural heritage as humanity,” said TIME President Ozlem Rozanitis. "With the support of the NEA, we are thrilled to plan significant activities that will engage and unite diverse audiences, fostering connections among us," said TIME Vice President Fuat Caner Tokgozol. 

For more information on other projects included in the NEA’s grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news.