Americans for the Arts and Artist Relief have released new versions of their COVID-19 Impact on the Arts Surveys. The findings will power our collective ongoing advocacy work to ensure the arts are part of the billions of dollars in relief and recovery funding.
We urge all arts and cultural organizations to complete the new COVID-19 Impact Survey for Organizations. This revised survey enables us to continue tracking the human and financial impacts of COVID-19 on arts organizations as well as understand the challenges with recovery and re-opening. All types of arts and cultural organizations should participate.
EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
Currently Accepting Applications:
- The Wisconsin Arts Board (WAB), with support from the National Endowment for the Arts through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will distribute $778,200 through its Wisconsin Arts Rescue Program grant (WARP) in order to help secure jobs and keep the doors open to the hundreds of arts organizations in Wisconsin that add value to the state's economy and bolster the creative life of our communities. Created in response to the continuing pandemic, these grants provide funding to arts organizations for pandemic-related losses sustained due to the cancellation of programming, operations, and events. All applicants must complete an application through the SmartSimple grants system to request funding. Applications will open September 2, 2021 and must be submitted by 3 p.m. on October 14, 2021 to be considered for funding. WAB held an informational webinar on September 9, 2021 to provide an overview of the grant, its process, and how to apply. A recording of the webinar is now available on our YouTube channel. A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is also available, developed in response to questions raised in the chat during the session.
Not Currently Accepting Applications:
- The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the Small Business Administration’s Office of Disaster Assistance. Eligible applicants may qualify for SVO Grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, with the maximum amount available for a single grant award of $10 million. $2 billion is reserved for eligible applications with up to 50 full-time employees. The first in a series of SVO webinars is available here. On August 11, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced a call to all eligible Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) applicants seeking economic aid for live entertainment small businesses, nonprofits, and venues.
- On June 8, 2020, the Federal Reserve announced the expansion of the Mainstreet Lending Program to small and medium-size businesses. While these types of loans are not the forgivable type and were previously only available to major corporations, the terms may be attractive and provide much more flexibility for use of funds. $75 billion is being made available for these loans through the CARES Act. Please note that the Federal Reserve Board also confirmed that they will soon be announcing an additional loan program specifically for nonprofit organizations.
- COVID-19 Cultural Organization Grant Program, administered by the Department of Administration
- La Crosse Community Foundation's grant opportunity to help charitable organizations in La Crosse County survive the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Emergency Survival Grant provides unrestricted funds to nonprofits to offset pandemic-related revenue losses and expenses.
- A new initiative of the United States Regional Arts Organizations made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the United States Regional Arts Resilience Fund will award grants of $30,000 – $75,000 to small and mid-sized arts organizations in the Midwest, prioritizing organizations that are led by and serving people of color and Indigenous people, and/or led by and serving people from rural communities.
- On June 5, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act was signed into law, to provide borrowers greater flexibility in getting their loans forgiven. A joint statement outlining the changes is available here. Please note that while the "covered period" of the loan was extended from 8 weeks to 24 weeks, the deadline for applying for a PPP loan application remains June 30, 2020.
- 2021 Actos de Confianza: The National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) distributed $5,000 grants to Latinx arts organizations facing critical financial emergencies due to the impact of COVID-19.
Resource Pages from our State, Regional and National Partners:Institute of Museum and Library Services
Economic and Jobs-Related Resources:Arts Organization Responses:
WEDC'S GUIDE FOR MAIN STREET AND OTHER BUSINESSES NAVIGATING COVID-19 TIME
Click on the header above to access the Guide