Several Georgia arts organizations hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, just got a lifeline from the National Endowment from the Arts.
Nineteen organizations across the state were selected by the NEA to each receive $50,000 grants as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) fund. The Georgia groups is part of 855 institutions nationally that were awarded the grants. The NEA is administering a total of $45 million in federal CARES aid directly to arts groups across the country that met NEA critieria. The grants, however, won’t be awarded in lump sums, said Victoria Hutter, NEA assistant director of public affairs. Instead, awardees can submit requests to “draw down” on their accounts as needed.
“For some, it won’t go far, but for others it maybe a lifeline,” Hutter said. “Any support for any organization at this time is going to be a very important.”
Theatres, museums, festivals, dance companies and other institutions are in financial jeopardy as the pandemic keeps their doors shuttered ans patrons away. Some have turned to free, virtual programming in an effort to stay, if not financially viable, at least on the minds of patrons as shutdowns continue. But operating on a shoestring budget with little in reserves is a reality for many arts groups, and some are burning through them or furloughing or laying off staff.
“I have absolute faith we’re going to make it through this, I just don’t know what we’ll look like at the end of this,” said Anthony Rodriguez, producing artistic director and co-founder of the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville.
The NEA received 3,100 applications for this round of grants. In April, the agency awarded about $30 million in similar funds to nine state and regional arts agencies. Those entities, including the Georgia Arts Council, will use the money for their own granting programs, Hutter said.
The 19 Georgia awardees include:
AthFest, Inc., Athens
ROOTS, Atlanta
Atlanta Opera
Burnaway Inc., Atlanta
Atlanta Film Society, Atlanta
Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta
Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center (on behalf of High Museum of Art), Atlanta
True Colors Theatre Company, Atlanta
Jessye Norman School of the Arts, Augusta
Out on Film, Avondale Estates
The Columbus Museum, Columbus
LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, LaGrange
Aurora Theatre, Lawrenceville
Colquitt County Arts Council, Inc., Moultrie
Serenbe Institute for Art, Culture and the Environment, Palmetto
Hambidge Center for Creative Arts & Science, Rabun Gap
Savannah Music Festival, Savannah
Paradise Garden, Summerville
Elm Street Cultural Arts Village, Woodstock
