The Boston-based New England Foundation for the Arts has announced a $2.2 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation in support of its National Dance Project.

Established in 1996, the project encourages the creation and sharing of new dance work with audiences in communities across the country. In the years since the project was established, NEFA has redistributed more than $24.4 million in support of dance and become one of the few sources for dance funding in the U.S. The program, which also receives support from the Doris Duke Charitable and MetLife foundations, has reached more than 3.2 million people in thirty-seven states.

"With nearly $8 million invested in the National Dance Project, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is a pillar for the program, helping to sustain many of the most important choreographers of our day," said NEFA executive director Rebecca Blunk.