DR. VERONICA MORGAN-LEE
The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council has launched of its largest grant program to date – the Allegheny Arts Revival Grant – which provides $450,000 to Allegheny County artists and arts organizations, the New Pittsburgh Courier has learned. This grant program is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
This one-time grant program offers $10,000 in general operating grants to arts and culture organizations that are registered 501(c)3 organizations conducting work in Allegheny County. Individual artists who are 18 years and older, living in Allegheny County are eligible for $5,000 for the creation of new work. Applications open on Monday, May 2, 2022, and are due by Friday, July 1, 2022, at 11:59 p.m.
In its commitment to equity, the Arts Council is prioritizing the support of BIPOC artists and BIPOC-led arts and culture organizations. The Arts Council has committed to ensuring at least 40% of all awarded funds will go to individuals and organizations that identify as BIPOC. The Arts Council has also committed to prioritizing funds to nonprofit arts and culture organizations with budgets of less than $250,000, earmarking 20 of the 35 grants available for these organizations.
“Small arts organizations and independent artists often have less capacity to pursue the requirements of federal grants,” said Dr. Veronica Morgan-Lee, Board Chair of the Arts Council, in a release. “The Arts Council elevated its long-standing relationships in the community and government to seek funds on behalf of a committed and richly diverse arts ecosystem.”
Interested applicants can attend free information sessions on Monday, May 16, at 5:30 p.m. at Attack Theatre to learn more about the application, eligibility and more. The Arts Council will also host several coffee shop hours, beginning Thursday, May 19, where applicants can drop in for feedback.
Funding for the Allegheny Arts Revival Grant comes from an American Rescue Plan grant awarded to the Arts Council late last year. The Arts Council was not previously eligible to apply for these funds; however, through targeted advocacy efforts alongside the United States Urban Arts Federation, American Rescue Plan grant guidelines were updated to broaden accessibility nationwide to include local arts agencies.
“We couldn’t have accessed these federal funds without the support of local representatives 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,” said Mitch Swain, CEO of the Arts Council, in a release.
Interested applicants can email grants@pittsburghartscouncil.org with any questions about the grant. For more information on Greater Pittsburgh Art Council grant programs, visit www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/grants/aarg.
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