Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora has been approved for a $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).  

Part of the NEA’s Grants for Arts Projects, the funds will support the presentation and publication of the upcoming GenderQueer/GenreQueer Playground special issue, guest edited by interdisciplinary artist, poet, and scholar Ronaldo V. Wilson.  

“This Obsidian special issue will be a living testament to how trans, genderqueer, and nonbinary writers and artists are often at the leading edge of innovation, pushing the boundaries of genre, broadening the scope of text-based work with other art practices and mediums,” said Dr. Duriel E. Harris, professor of English at Illinois State and editor-in-chief of Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora. 

Obsidian’s project is among 1,248 projects across the nation totaling nearly $29 million that were selected during this first round of fiscal year 2022 funding in the Grants for Arts Projects funding category.  

“These National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grants underscore the resilience of our nation’s artists and arts organizations, will support efforts to provide access to the arts, and rebuild the creative economy,” said NEA Acting Chair Ann Eilers. “The supported projects demonstrate how the arts are a source of strength and well-being for communities and individuals, and can open doors to conversations that address complex issues of our time.” 

Find more about the NEA award. Discover more on Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora