ASHLAND, Ky. — Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, announced that it has received a grant of $15,000 to host The Big Read in the Tri-State.

The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The Big Read is managed by Arts Midwest.

Paramount Arts Center is one of 78 not-for-profit organizations to receive a grant to host a Big Read project between September 2012 and June 2013. The Big Read in Ashland will focus on “Call of the Wild” by Jack London. Activities will take place in the Spring 2013. A complete list of these activities will be available soon on the Paramount’s website.

Melanie Cornelison, Education Director at the Paramount is excited to bring the Big Read to Ashland.

“We are so excited to be the recipient of this grant. It is an amazing opportunity to work with dozens of organizations and schools throughout the Tri-State to get people excited about reading the classics.”

NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said, “At the NEA we know that the arts can help to create strong, vibrant communities by bringing people together.

Through The Big Read, these 78 organizations are giving their communities the opportunity to share both great works of literature and memorable experiences.”

The Big Read provides communities nationwide with the opportunity to read, discuss, and celebrate one of 31 selections from U.S. and world literature.

The 78 selected organizations will receive Big Read grants to promote and carry out community-based reading programs featuring activities such as read-a-thons,book discussions, lectures, movie screenings, and performing arts events. Participating communities also receive high-quality, free-of-charge educational materials to supplement each title, including reader’s, teacher’s, and audio guides, which also are available for download on neabigread.org.