The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently announced four Dallas-based organizations are among nonprofits nationwide that will receive funds to bounce back from the impact of COVID-19.
The NEA has recommended American Rescue Plan (ARP) awards totaling $57,750,000 to 567 arts organizations that can be used to save jobs, as well as to fund operations and facilities, health and safety supplies, and marketing and promotional efforts to encourage attendance and participation.
Two organizations – The Dallas Symphony and the Bishop Arts Theatre Center – were awarded $150,000 each. The Dallas Black Dance Theatre received $100,000 and Cara Mia Theatre was awarded $50,000.
“Our nation’s arts sector has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Endowment for the Arts’ American Rescue Plan funding will help arts organizations rebuild and reopen,” said Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, chair of the NEA. “The arts are crucial to helping America’s communities heal, unite, and inspire as well as essential to our nation’s economic recovery.”
Grants were recommended to organizations in both rural and urban communities; in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC. The grants also represented all 15 of the NEA’s artistic disciplines.
The NEA encouraged applications from a variety of organizations for this opportunity and provided numerous resources for navigating the application process. Among the recommended organizations, 27 percent are first-time NEA grantees and 78 percent are small or medium sized organizations with budgets of less than $2 million. Grant award recommendations are for $50,000, $100,000, or $150,000 and do not require cost share/matching funds.
The National Endowment for the Arts received more than 7,500 eligible applications requesting $695 million. To review the applications, the agency employed more than 450 expert readers and panelists to review and score each application using the published review criteria.
The American Rescue Plan was signed into law in March 2021 and included $135 million for the National Endowment for the Arts for the arts sector. This is the third installment of ARP funding.
