Dolly Jacobs to perform live for the National Endowment for the Arts

Dolly Jacobs, co-founder of Circus Arts Conservatory and lifelong circus performer and aerialist, is bringing the magic of the Sarasota big top to the nation's capital. 

This Thursday, October 1, Jacobs along with 10 other artists will receive the National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship award. Nominated by the public, recipients represent the very best artists that perform and advocate for America's folk and traditional art forms. What makes Jacobs' inclusion even more special is that this is the first time a circus artist and performer has received this national award. It not only validates circus as a traditional art form but also elevates it beyond just mere entertainment. 

"It's an incredible honor," says Jacobs. "I truly take great pleasure in accepting it for all the great artists who came before me. We are dedicated to preserving the extraordinary heritage of the circus arts."

The following evening at 8 p.m. on October 2 Jacobs along with her ten fellow nominees will perform at Lisner Auditorium on the campus of George Washington University. Hosted by Marco Werman, the host of Public Radio International and BBC's "The World," the concert will be streamed nationwide at http://arts.gov/lifetime-honors/nea-national-heritage-fellowships/2015-nea-national-heritage-fellowships-concert

"The art forms represented in this year’s class of National Heritage Fellows are wide-ranging,” says NEA chairman Jane Chu. “Not surprisingly, the artists have a common bond in their efforts to both share their art forms within their communities and across the nation, while also ensuring their art forms are passed along to the next generation through teaching and mentoring.”