City of Phoenix issued the following announcement on Sept. 15.
The City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture announced emergency relief grants to 88 nonprofit arts and culture organizations as part of the city's American Rescue Plan Act funding. The Phoenix City Council approved using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on June 8, 2021, for the Office of Arts and Culture to support nonprofit arts and culture organizations and artists still hurting financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will also fund a mix of workforce and economic development initiatives and community programs.
As part of the ARPA funding, $2.65 million has been allocated to the Nonprofit Arts and Culture Stabilization Grants program. These funds will provide one-time emergency recovery grants to Phoenix's arts and culture organizations of all sizes. Funding can be used to manage their operations, personnel, and programming as they welcome back audiences, guests, and patrons to their services to demonstrate intent, commitment, and strategies to sustain well beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to continue to support the arts and culture sector in such a meaningful way during the pandemic," said Mitch Menchaca, executive director of the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. "These funds will impact not just the organizations receiving grants, by the artists and workforce they employ, as well as our residents to ensure they have access to cultural services throughout the entire city."
The Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture has an equity strategy that aims to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented marginalized groups' full participation from the agency's programs and strengthen equity, diversity, and inclusion in the arts and culture sector for all Phoenix residents. The 88 funded organizations represent all artistic disciplines, budget sizes, and City Council districts.
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