Maine arts groups receive American Rescue Plan money

Federal money, and the promise of extra, is headed to Maine as arts organizations navigate a brand new panorama rendered unpredictable and dangerous by the coronavirus pandemic.

Seven Maine arts groups acquired a complete of $80,000 from the New England Arts Resilience Fund to assist with restoration from the continuing pandemic and to plan for the longer term. The grants come by means of the New England Arts Resilience Fund, which is a part of the United States Arts Resilience Fund administered by the National Endowment for the Arts. The New England Foundation for the Arts distributed the regional money.

Maine organizations receiving money are the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, $15,000; Art At Work, Portland, $5,000; Indigo Arts Alliance, Portland, $20,000; LA Arts, Lewiston, $10,000; Opera House Arts, Stonington, $10,000; Bates Dance Festival, Lewiston, $10,000; and Space, Portland, $10,000.

In all, the New England Foundation for the Arts introduced 73 awards totaling $840,000 throughout New England.

“These awards are attainable because of the American Rescue Plan and the National Endowment for the Arts,” New England Foundation for the Arts Executive Director Cathy Edwards stated in a press launch. “Federal funding within the arts and tradition sector reaches each congressional district; given the analysis on the financial and social advantages of the arts, this assist is essential and an important side of group well being.”

According to Americans for the Arts, job losses at nonprofit arts organizations nationally are thrice larger than the nonprofit common, and barely greater than 10 p.c of these organizations will not be assured of their survival.

Since this system’s inception, the New England Arts Resilience Fund has awarded practically $2.8 million to the sector.

Meanwhile, the workplace of U.S. Sen. Angus King this previous week introduced that the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland had acquired $50,000, the utmost grant whole, from the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ American Rescue Plan grant program. The museum will rent a digital media specialist; additional develop on-line programming and digital providers; improve Wi-Fi and create further pc and pill stations throughout its campus and historic buildings; and set up a devoted server for higher entry to digital photographs in its assortment.

Finally, the Maine Arts Commission introduced two new grant packages, additionally supported by American Rescue plan money, for job creation and to bolster the inventive workforce. Individual artists and nonprofit organizations are eligible to use for an Arts Jobs Grant, with most awards as much as $15,000. All functions are due by Nov. 18. The aim of this system is to develop new alternatives for artists and encourage worker retention amongst arts organizations, in line with the fee.

David Greenham, government director of the Maine Arts Commission, known as the federal funding “a begin” and one optimistic step within the effort to assist create and retain arts jobs. “More must be executed and we’re working to encourage our companions within the state and federal authorities, and within the non-public sector to hitch us on this work,” Greenham stated in a press launch asserting the grant packages. “Maine’s cultural life is one thing all of us cherish, and our inventive employees deserve our continued consideration and assist as we uncover what life appears like in a post-pandemic world.”

Individual artists can apply here, whereas arts organizations can apply here.

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