Resources for Arts Organizations
Grant Opportunities:
The FY21 Supporting Arts grant program is open and accepting applications.
This program provides unrestricted funding to help support Connecticut’s arts organizations and municipal arts departments as they pursue their missions.
This type of grant is flexible and gives the grantee the ability to use the funds where they are most needed. Grants range from $1,000 to $15,000 depending upon the size of the organization.
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Deadline: June 29, 2020
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) COVID-19 supplement funding.
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Eligibility: Need to have been a previous NEA grantee within the last four years.
As part of a comprehensive response to the effects of COVID-19 on the Northwest Corner of Connecticut, the Northwest Corner Gives: COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund strengthens the safety nets in Northwest Connecticut communities* by awarding Rapid Response Grants to nonprofits that provide basic needs.
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In the coming weeks, the Fund will enable support to a wider range of nonprofits in Northwest Connecticut, including those nonprofits in the areas of arts and culture, civic and education, the environment, and animal care and rescue.
NEH CARES: Cultural Organizations emergency relief grants provide up to $300,000 to cultural nonprofits to support a range of humanities activities across the fields of education, preservation and access, public programming, digital humanities, and scholarly research through December 31, 2020.
Funding may be used for short-term activities that emphasize retaining or hiring humanities staff at cultural organizations across the country to maintain or adapt critical programs during the pandemic.
The deadline to apply is May 11, 2020. Application guidelines are available on the NEH website. Applicants will be informed of funding decisions by June 2020.
Government Funding:
1. Apply for the SBA Emergency Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) (1099 & self-employed workers):
The SBA offers disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans. This also includes a possible forgivable grant of $10,000. We strongly encourage all small businesses affected in NWCT to look into applying.
2. Apply for Payroll Protection Program:
Administered by: SBA-approved banks (especially community banks). 4% interest up to 10 years. First 6 to 12 months of payment deferred. Entire loan forgiven is by the federal government if you use at least 75% of the loan for income and benefits and a maximum of 25% of loan for overhead.
Other Resources:
CT's Arts & Culture Industry Guidelines for Operating During COVID-19
This COVID-19 Operating Guidelines document (the “Plan”) is intended to provide information to those in the arts and culture sector and other interested parties and to assist in reopening according to the guidelines provided by the State of Connecticut.
Free Advertising for Local Businesses through CivicLift and DiscoverLitchfieldHills.com
The Northwest Connecticut Economic Development Corporation, CivicLift, and NWCT Chamber are working together to provide a FREE online advertising platform that supports local businesses during this difficult time and during the recovery period.
DOL Shared Work Program
Shared Work, designed to save jobs and retain skilled workers, offers an alternative to layoffs by allowing employers to temporarily reduce employee hours and supplement lost wages with the help of partial unemployment benefits. Under the program, all employers with two or more employees can participate. When business upturns, employees resume regular hours and employers are able to ramp up quickly with an experienced team in place.
Coming Soon! NEA funding for CT arts organizations.
The Connecticut Office of the Arts will be launching its CARES Emergency Relief Fund for Connecticut Arts Organizations in the near future. Please stay tuned.
The CARES Emergency Relief Grant for Connecticut Arts Organizations is made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.