Arts Quincy identified as one of 10 hub organizations for state Creative Recovery grant program

QUINCY — Arts Quincy is a community navigator partner with the Illinois Arts Alliance for the just-announced $50 million of grants available for the arts and culture sector through the state Creative Recovery grant program.

This program is designed to target anyone in the creative sector including nonprofits, for-profit arts businesses and individual artists and is administered through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Illinois Arts Alliance has identified 10 “hub” organizations in the state, including Arts Quincy, who will help applicants determine eligibility and troubleshoot applications. The Arts Quincy region includes at least 15 counties in West Central Illinois, and staff will get the information out to partners both in Quincy and throughout this part of the state.

In a press release, Arts Quincy executive director Laura Sievert said, “It’s our hope at Arts Quincy that all eligible arts and culture organizations in our region will take advantage of this program. The goal of the program is that no eligible organization or individual will go without funding. We really want to get this money into the hands of the arts and culture sector workers to regain their footing and regrow their audiences. A robust arts sector supports community quality of life, economic growth and helps attract and retain workforce. This program is crucial in restoring the arts to pre-pandemic levels.”

Funding levels will range from $5,000 to $250,000, and even small organizations who may not have professional staff are potentially eligible. The grants are for unrestricted operating support and will be based on COVID losses.

Community hubs will be ready by Monday, April 3, to field questions and elevate problems to a centralized help desk as needed. The application period opens April 5 and closes May 10.

There likely will be an appeals process for rejected applications. The program specifically supports performing and presenting arts organizations, theatres, museums, cultural heritage organizations and arts education. Individual artists and groups are also eligible based on their taxable incomes before and during covid. Religious organizations are excluded. Funding for the program comes from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocated to the state CURE Fund and approved by Public Act 102-0699.

The Creative Recovery grant program is part of a larger ARPA package which includes restaurants and hotels and has a total value of $175 million. Restaurant and hotel funding timelines have not yet been announced. Read details from DECO at https://dceo.illinois.gov/smallbizassistance/b2b.html.