Allegheny County nonprofit arts and cultural organizations will get a financial boost to help with post-pandemic recovery, thanks to a $500,000 grant to American Rescue Plan grant to the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The arts council will regrant 90% of the funds to small nonprofit organizations and independent artists in the county during 2022, according to Kristen Wishon, GPAC senior director of external affairs.

“The arts sector remains among the most severely impacted by the pandemic. Nationwide, 95% of artists lost creative income, while arts organizations continue to face revenue loss in ticket sales and venue attendance,” said Mitch Swain, CEO of the arts council. “These NEA funds will directly support our community.”

The one-time grant will provide general operating support for nonprofit arts organizations with budgets of less than $250,000 and provide funding to independent artists for the creation of art. Forty percent of the funds will go to BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) artists and organizations.

Full grant details and eligibility will be announced in late spring.

This grant is the second of three installments of the NEA’s American Rescue Plan funding. In total, the NEA will award grants totaling $20,200,000 to 66 local arts agencies nationwide for subgranting.

In April, the NEA announced that 40 percent of its $135 million in ARP funding would be allocated to 62 state, jurisdictional and regional arts organizations for regranting through their respective programs. The third installment of ARP funding to arts organizations to support their own operations will be announced in early 2022.

“The NEA’s significant investment in local arts agencies, including the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, is a key element in helping the arts and culture sector recover and reopen, while ensuring that American Rescue Plan funding is distributed equitably,” said Ann Eilers, NEA’s acting chair. “These grants recognize the vital role of local arts agencies and will allow them to help rebuild local economies and contribute to the well-being of our communities.”

The Arts Council expressed gratitude to Congressman Mike Doyle and Senator Bob Casey, who supported the American Rescue Plan, making this funding possible, and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald for his support of the application.

For more information on how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit arts.gov.

To learn more about grants offered by the GPAC, visit pittsburghartscouncil.org.

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