Staff Reports
The Indiana Arts Commission has announced the Indiana Arts Emergency Relief Fund to support the state’s arts organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The arts add vibrancy and depth to Hoosiers’ lives and are a significant factor in the health of Indiana’s economy, according to a news release from the commission. The arts sector contributes $8.4 billion to Indiana’s economy, and Indiana’s overall creative economy includes 160,000 jobs, more than 87,000 of which are employees of arts organizations and businesses.
“While the COVID-19 crisis threatens arts organizations and their associated jobs, programs and services to Hoosiers, the arts continue to be at the center of community life and economic recovery. The distribution of these funds reflects our nation, region and state’s commitment to sustaining the arts and their impact through this difficult time,” said Lewis Ricci, executive director of the Indiana Arts Commission.
The Indiana Arts Emergency Relief Fund program is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Indiana Arts Commission and Arts Midwest with funding provided by the CARES Act.
Fiscal year 2020 Arts Organization Support I, II and III grant recipients of the IAC are eligible for funding and will be awarded fixed amounts of approximately $2,500 to $3,000. These funds are not competitive, and all eligible organizations will be awarded funds upon the successful completion of a required form assigned in the online grant system.
The deadline for eligible organizations to request funding is May 15.
“The Indiana Arts Emergency Relief Fund would not have been possible without Indiana’s congressional delegation and their support and commitment to the arts. The Indiana Arts Commission is proud to assist organizations of all sizes throughout the state and provide these relief funds in the most expedient way possible,” said Allen Platt, commission chairman.
Additional CARES Act funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities is available for humanities organizations through Indiana Humanities. In total, more than $1 million in relief funding will be available to arts and humanities institutions in Indiana.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”On the Web” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
For information about the Indiana Arts Commission and the Indiana Arts Emergency Relief Fund, visit in.gov/arts.
[sc:pullout-text-end]