Fifty-five arts organizations and 11 artists have received relief funds
Wilmington, DE – Earlier this year, the Division of the Arts received $423,600 from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. With this special award and additional federal funds, the Division developed two short-term grant opportunities to help secure jobs and support Delaware’s nonprofit arts organizations and artists that add value to the state’s economy and bolster the creative life of our communities. Of the approximately 60 arts organizations that receive General Operating Support, and an additional 25 community-based arts programs, 55 arts and community-based organizations and 11 artists received relief funds.
CARES Organization Relief Grants ranged in size from $1,000 to $12,500 and were only available to recipients of General Operating Support (GOS) in the past three years (FY18, FY19, FY20), or Project Support (PS) in the current fiscal year (FY20). The grants were for expenses to support salaried employees, fees for artists and/or contractual personnel, as well as facility costs such as rent and utilities, incurred between March 15 and August 31.
CARES Artist Relief Grants provided up to $500 to eligible Delaware artists impacted by the cancellation of a specific scheduled event, gig, or opportunity (e.g. commissions, performances, readings, contracts, teaching classes, etc.) because of COVID-19.
“These relief funds are critical to arts organizations’ and their ongoing service to the community,” said Paul Weagraff, director of the Division of the Arts. “Public funds represent only a small portion of the revenue that arts organizations generate. In addition, individual practicing and teaching artists have seen their opportunities postponed or even canceled due to the social distancing guidelines set forth by the state. Artists’ work in communities, schools and businesses is crucial to the creative life of our communities and adds distinct value to the state’s economy.”
In addition to the CARES Act relief grants, the Division also released the final General Operating Support grant payments in mid-March (usually dispersed in September) to assist arts organizations with cash flow challenges resulting from cancelled and postponed, revenue generating programming.
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