Special Section: Resources & Tools for a Recession
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The ARRA includes $50 million in supplemental grants funding for the National Endowment for the Arts. Special one-time grants will be offered to preserve jobs in the arts that are threatened by the current economic conditions. Sixty percent of the $50 million allocated to the National Endowment for the Arts will be distributed to eligible nonprofit organizations through the NEA's competitive grants program which had an application deadline of April 2, 2009. Visit the NEA Web site for more information.
The remaining 40 percent will be distributed through state arts agencies and regional arts organizations including the Southern Arts Federation. SAF will be partnering with our region’s nine state arts agencies to regrant funds to arts organizations in our states. SAF's funds will be added to the funding pool to be disbursed by each of our nine state arts agencies using the granting process they develop. Once each state arts agency’s panel has made its funding recommendations, SAF will work with each state arts agency’s staff to determine which applications will be supported by SAF ARRA funds. Grants to those organizations will be issued directly by the Southern Arts Federation. We are taking this collaborative approach to simplify the process of accessing ARRA arts funding for arts organizations by creating a single application source via their own state arts agency. Please check your state arts agency’s Web site as some deadlines are fast approaching.
Other ARRA funding opportunities may be available to assist artists and arts organizations. Many of the decisions regarding distribution of the funds will be made at the state and local level.
NEW: Guide to ARRA funding process and potential arts funding opportunities
Read more details about funding opportunities through:
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
Transportation Enhancements (TE program)
Rural Development
Elementary and Secondary Education
Economic Development Assistance
Corporation for National and Community Service
National Park Service
Job Training and Employment Services
Unemployment Benefits
Health Coverage for Unemployed Workers
Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative is a program designed to provide planning assistance and consulting to struggling non-profit 501(c)3 performing arts organizations throughout the United States. Arts administrators can either request services or offer their expertise as a mentor.
The Meyer Foundation in Washington DC has compiled key resources and links in their Economic Crisis Resource Center, including information on fundraising, board involvement, communications, health and well-being, and risk management.
Several membership organizations have publicly-available resources, including the Americans for the Arts' Arts Funding Response and Readiness Kit, and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits' Tools for Tough Times.
The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts worked with nonprofit experts to create a "Strategies for Survival" checklist.
WolfBrown: Navigating Troubled Waters
DanceUSA: Letter to the Membership
Guidestar: Managing in Tough Times
Nonprofit Finance Fund: Navigating the Financial Crisis
Community Wealth Vanguard: Weathering the Storm—Lessons from 2001
