BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – The National Endowment of the Arts has approved a $10,000 grant to the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) 2023 Buckhannon Host Committee to support the 2023 World Championship in Buckhannon.
The WAMSB 2023 World Championship was one 1,125 projects across the country that qualified during the second round of Grants for Arts Projects. The National Endowment for the Arts has invested more than $26.6 million into similar events this fiscal year.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support arts and cultural organizations throughout the nation with these grants, including the WAMSB 2023 World Championship. said NEA Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, PhD. “The arts contribute to our individual well-being, the well-being of our communities, and to our local economies. The arts are also crucial to helping us make sense of our circumstances from different perspectives as we emerge from the pandemic and plan for a shared new normal informed by our examined experience.”
The WAMSB 2023 World Championship will be held in Buckhannon in July 2023- only the second time in more than 25 years the event will be held in America and the first time the event will be held on the east coast.
So far, 47 bands from 24 countries have submitted applications to participate. The city and region are preparing for the international attention, according to WAMSB 2023 Buckhannon Host Committee President Randy Sanders.
“We are beyond excited that the National Endowment of the Arts approved our grant application for funding. Every dollar gained is another dollar that will help the city of Buckhannon put on an unforgettable international event. We can’t thank the agency enough,” Sanders said.
In addition to the $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Buckhannon has allocated $100,000, the Randolph County Commission- $7,500, Harrison County Commission- $4,000 and Community Bank- $550.