NEA adds $80M in pandemic relief for arts and culture groups

“The National Endowment for the Arts announced Wednesday that it will make $80 million in pandemic relief available to more arts and cultural organizations, including first-time applicants and those that have never received support from the federal arts agency,” writes Peggy McGlone in Wednesday’s (6/23) Washington Post. “The relief funds will also support local arts agencies that will distribute the federal dollars to grass-roots organizations in their communities. The NEA hopes to significantly increase access to federal funds with this more inclusive approach…. The grants are part of the $135 million that the NEA received in the American Rescue Plan … An additional $53 million is being distributed to 62 state and regional organizations and other NEA partner agencies…. The remaining $2 million will be used for administration costs…. The NEA will present … resources to help new applicants. Individual arts and cultural organizations have until Aug. 12 to apply… [For] the grants to local arts agencies … the deadline is July 22.… ‘We know the arts and culture sector are a major economic driver in many communities. We want to make sure we get the sector back,’ said Sonia Chala Tower, NEA director of public affairs and strategic communication.”