LANSING, Mich. — The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently announced the nonprofit arts organizations recommended for direct funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. A total of $44.5 million in nonmatching funds was awarded, and The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is pleased to share that it is one of 855 organizations, and one of 23 in the state of Michigan, to receive $50,000 in relief funding. More than 3,000 eligible applications were received and reviewed by a panel totaling upwards of 200 readers.
“All of us at the National Endowment for the Arts are keenly aware that arts organizations across the country are hurting, struggling and trying to survive and that our supply of funding does not come close to meeting the demand for assistance,” said NEA Chairman Mary Anne Carter. “That said, I am enormously proud of the over-and-above efforts of the Arts Endowment staff to swiftly and professionally manage such a large amount of additional work in a relatively short period of time on behalf of the American public.”
Grants of $50,000 were offered by the NEA to 846 organizations to support staff salaries, fees for artists or contractual personnel and facilities costs and were distributed across the United States to small, medium, and large arts organizations who are facing extreme losses and tremendous struggle during this time.
“Artists and arts and cultural organizations are so important to the culture, livelihood and wellbeing of our Greater Lansing region, and they have been hard hit by COVID-19 fallout, losing much, if not all, of their income as they canceled festivals, musical performances, gallery openings, art fairs and more,” said Meghan Martin, Arts Council of Greater Lansing executive director. “All of these activities and the institutions and artists that create them are extremely important to our communities continued economic growth, and they need everyone’s support.”
Michigan’s arts and cultural nonprofits are key contributors to the overall financial health of the state of Michigan. In fact, according to a 2016 Creative State report, they contributed more than $610 million in direct expenditures to Michigan’s economy, not to mention their contributions to tourism in our region.
“As we move toward reopening the state, our arts community is struggling in the wake of thousands of dollars of lost revenue, and they will look to the Arts Council as the anchor arts organization in the region,” says Martin. “These relief funds from the NEA will ensure we remain a stable and strong entity, allowing us the fortitude to be here for our artists, arts and cultural organizations and the community, as we reimagine the future of arts and culture together,” Martin said.
For more information on this National Endowment for the Arts grant announcement, visit arts.gov/news [arts.gov].
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