Arts commission announces relief fund

(photo courtesy of the Indiana Arts Commission)

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Inside INdiana Business) – The Indiana Arts Commission is launching a relief fund for arts organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The commission says the Indiana Arts Emergency Relief Fund program is available to 2020 Arts Organization grant recipients.

The IAC says grants will be awarded in fixed amounts of $2,500 to $3,000, and the funding request deadline is May 15.

The program is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Indiana Arts Commission, and Arts Midwest, along with funding provided by the CARES Act. The commission says the funds are not competitive, and all eligible organizations will be awarded funds once they complete the required online form.

In total, the commission says more than $1 million in relief funding will be available to arts and humanities institutions in Indiana.

Lewis Ricci, Indiana Arts Commission executive director, says the funds are a reflection of a national commitment to the arts. “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,” said Ricci.

The commission says the arts sector contributes $8.4 billion to Indiana’s economy, and Indiana’s overall creative economy includes 160,000 jobs, over 87,000 of which are employees of arts organizations and businesses.*

More information can be found by clicking here.