NATION IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Arts Groups Given Millions in Grants

The National Endowment for the Arts awarded million-dollar grants to benefit Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., the San Francisco Symphony, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Charlotte, N.C. Arts and Science Council. The four $1-million “challenge grants,” which require $3 in private funds for every federal dollar given, were the biggest of 37 endowment awards to arts institutions across the country totaling $14,125,000. The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles was among the other challenge winners, receiving a grant of $250,000.