Arts group to give $490K in grants

Working with National Endowment for the Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts will distribute about $490,000 to organizations statewide that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Through May 8, arts-focused organizations can apply for the grants through the VCA. Funding for the grant program comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

“Since the beginning, our first question was what can we do to get cash infusions into these organizations as quickly as possible,” VCA Executive Director Janet Starke said.

To be eligible, organizations should meet the following requirements:

Organizations must be a 501 (c)(3) organization, whose primary mission/function is the arts, are incorporated in Virginia and whose physical location and home season are in the Commonwealth of Virginia

Arts organizations that received a General Operating Support Grant, Project Grant, or Artists in Education Grant from the VCA in the current fiscal year FY2020 (July, 1, 2019-June 30, 2020)

The organization will be in operation to receive and apply the funds, as indicated in the application

Eligible applicants must be in good standing with their FY20 award

The grants will be awarded on a sliding scale based on each organization’s fiscal budget, ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

Once the application period has closed, Starke said they intend to work quickly to distribute emergency funding to qualifying applicants.

The VCA will host an informational webinar on Friday at 2:30 p.m. for interested organizations to learn more about the relief fund. Registration is free and required to participate. You can register at www.arts.virginia.gov.

Lovers of the arts can help out their favorite organizations, too, Starke said.

“People might not realize it, but another aspect of the CARES Act allows for an above-the-line deduction of up to $300 in charitable contributions. It’s an easy way to make a donation to these organizations.”

For more information on VCA’s emergency grants, visit www.arts.virginia.gov or email Lucas Hall, VCA deputy director, at Lucas.Hall@vca.virginia.gov.