Andršs Szšnt‹ will direct the institute, which is offered for journalists living outside of major performing arts centers, in collaboration with artistic advisor Joseph Horowitz and Anya Grundmann. Attendees will work with senior journalists including Justin Davidson of Newsday; Jeremy Eichler, Anne Midgette, James Oestreich and John Rockwell, all of The New York Times; Terry Teachout (The Wall Street Journal, Commentary, ArtsJournal.com); and Alex Ross of The New Yorker. Participants will also meet senior staff of Carnegie Hall, the American Symphony Orchestra League, Lincoln Center, the New York Philharmonic and other leading music institutions.

This year's group will attend director Anthony Minghella's new Madama Butterfly at the Metropolitan Opera, the celebration of composer Steve Reich at Carnegie Hall, and performances featuring Valery Gergiev, Gil Shaham and Andršs Schiff. The institute also aims to improve the journalists' musical understanding with a physical learning component, such as a basic lesson on a musical instrument.

An institute for dance critics will be hosted by the American Dance Festival at Duke University and one for theater critics at the University of Southern California.

NEA Chairman Dana Gioia said, "All the American arts depend on media coverage and intelligent criticism. This is especially true for music, where institutions and performers thrive on insightful coverage and reviews. The NEA Arts Journalism Institutes bring working critics from all over the country together to develop their skills. This program improves both the quantity and quality of this country's journalism, which benefits both the artists and the public."