Allegheny County arts community to get more than $3M in state grants

Thirteen arts and cultural entities in Allegheny County will receive more than $3 million in state grant funds.

They include (figures rounded):

• National Aviary: $221,000

• The Andy Warhol Museum: $263,000

• The Mattress Factory art museum: $80,000

• Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh: $302,000

• Pittsburgh Symphony: $500,000

• Civic Light Opera Association of Pittsburgh: $409,000

• Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre: $336,000

• Pittsburgh Opera: $253,000

• Pittsburgh Public Theater: $225,000

• Pittsburgh Musical Theater: $52,000

• Attack Theatre Inc.: $31,000

• Prime Stage Theatre: $25,000

• Carnegie Science Center: $384,000

The Cultural and Museum Preservation Grant Program funds were approved Tuesday by the Commonwealth Financing Agency board, according to Sen. Wayne D. Fontana (D-Allegheny). The money was allocated from the CARES Act.

Emily Honhart, development director at Prime Stage Theatre, said the grant funding was a major relief for their organization, which offers live performances of literature-based productions.

Losing ticket sales during the covid-19 pandemic was difficult for a small organization, Honhart said.

“All of the funds from our ticket sales and our earned income are put towards simple things, like studio rent. But that money also goes into the upcoming season, so it has a real effect,” Honhart said.

“It allows us to exhale a little bit and focus on moving forward and not look at the budgetary shortfalls that occurred in the spring. It really allows us to look at the future and reinvent the way we offer art,” she said.

All of its upcoming productions will be held on a virtual platform for the foreseeable future.

Rebecca Himberger, executive director at Attack Theatre, agreed that the grant funds were a big help during the coronavirus pandemic.

Attack Theatre, a contemporary dance company, did a lot of programming in schools. With school visits and performance opportunities changing drastically during the pandemic, Himberger said any grant money can help.

“This money can be really transformative, because it’ll allow us to think about our programs in a new way,” she said. “It’s excellent in a time when we’re really rethinking our business model.”

Though it doesn’t make up for all of their lost revenue, grant funding is important for their business, Himberger said.

“These one-time grants are really helpful during this time period. It does offset some of the ongoing costs of operating our business,” she said, adding that the business will continue looking for additional support.

“Knowing how the ongoing pandemic has harmed these important Pittsburgh arts and cultural institutions, I am pleased that these funds will soon be distributed,” Fontana said. “Our historical, cultural, entertainment and arts entities have long been a staple of our city’s rich heritage and appeal as a tourist destination. It is imperative that we do all we can to sustain and support them.”