New Relief Funding for Organizations
Now Accepting Applications
On March 11, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 providing $135 million each to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to support the cultural sector as it recovers from the devastating impact of Covid-19. These funds represent a significant commitment to the arts and a recognition of the value of the arts and culture to the nation’s economy and recovery.
 
Two new funding opportunities are now open to cultural organizations as a result of this ARP funding. Forty percent of the $135 million is distributed to state, jurisdictional, and regional arts and humanities organizations for regranting through their respective funding programs. The remaining 60 percent of the ARP money is awarded by the NEA and NEH directly to non-profit organizations.

Read below for details on these new funding opportunities.
Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grants
The Vermont Arts Council has partnered with Vermont Humanities to distribute $1.2 million in Covid-19 relief funding to Vermont organizations through the Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grant program. Arts and/or humanities organizations that are incorporated in the state of Vermont with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, that comply with federal and state legal requirements, and are experiencing hardship due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic may apply. Organizations that received a 2020 Cultural Relief Grant from the Vermont Arts Council or Vermont Humanities and/or a Vermont Economic Recovery Grant for Cultural Organizations from the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development (ACCD), or other state or federal Covid-19 relief grants, are eligible to apply for this program as well. Funding awards are $5,000; $10,000; and $15,000.
Deadlines:
Round one: July 21
Round two: September 14

Two informational webinars will be held to assist applicants, July 1 and August 17. Learn more and register.
American Rescue Plan Grants from the NEA
The National Endowment for the Arts will distribute relief funds through its American Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations program. These one-time grants will be awarded to support jobs in the arts and culture sector, keep the doors open to nonprofit organizations nationwide, and assist the field in its recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Grants will be made to eligible organizations to support their own operations. Unlike other Arts Endowment funding programs that offer project-based support, Rescue Plan funds are intended to support day-to-day business expenses/operating costs, and not specific programmatic activities. The program is open to nonprofit arts and culture organizations and local arts agencies, regardless of whether they have received NEA funding in the past. This is a change from previous emergency funding requirements at the NEA and significantly expands access to federal funds for the arts and culture sector. Funding awards are $50,000; $100,000; or $150,000, and cost share/matching funds are not required.

First Deadline: August 12
Because the NEA anticipates a large number of applications for this funding opportunity, applications will be submitted in two separate groups.

Two informational webinars will be held to assist applicants:
In this webinar, NEA staff will provide an overview of the American Rescue Plan Grants to Organizations. Staff will share information on determining eligibility, how to apply, tips for your application, and will leave time for questions and answers.

In this special webinar, an NEA representative will provide information on the American rescue Plan Grants to Organizations specifically for Vermont organizations. Thank you to Sen. Patrick Leahy for arranging this Vermont-specific webinar. Also in this webinar, Vermont Arts Council staff will provide information on our new Covid-19 Cultural Recovery Grants for organizations.
Closed captioning will be provided.
We invite you to contact us with specific accommodations that you need to facilitate your participation. We will make every effort to honor your requests when they are made two weeks prior to the event. For questions about access, contact 504/ADA Coordinator Michele Bailey by sending an email or by calling 802.402.4614. Voice and relay calls welcome.
Please forward this email to those in your network who might be interested.