Cultural groups receive much needed COVID grants

More than 265 cultural organizations and 152 artists serving 118 Iowa communities received a much needed Christmas gift, a share of $7 million in grants announced by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.

Gov. Kim Reynolds allocated the funding, made possible by the CARES Act, on Dec. 2. The department launched the Iowa Arts & Culture Recovery Program the same day and received more than 550 requests totaling more than $36 million by the Dec. 11 deadline.

The list of grant recipients includes some of Iowa's longest-running music venues, arts and cultural heritage festivals, and theaters, along with artists and community arts councils, historical museums and university performing arts centers.

In Henry, Jefferson and Washington counties, recipients included the Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers with $76,800, the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center with $46,000 and the Kalona Historical Society with $8,800.

'The Iowa Arts and Culture Recovery Program stabilizes a vital part of Iowa's economy by helping our arts and cultural sector build a much-needed funding bridge for a stronger recovery,” Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer said. 'We are so grateful to Gov. Reynolds for her steadfast support of Iowa's creative and cultural workforce. These grants provide relief for thousands of Iowans whose jobs and livelihoods have been impacted this year.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated Iowa's creative sector, which relies on income from admissions, ticket sales and events. According to data provided by grant applicants, organizations have lost a combined $46.4 million in income since the pandemic began.

In a typical year, Iowa's creative sector accounts for 2.3 percent of the state's economy, according to research by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Iowa's arts, culture, history and creative industries, including film and media, employ more than 42,000 Iowans working in more than 5,000 nonprofit and for-profit businesses statewide.

The Iowa Arts and Cultural Recovery Program grants were administered by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, and will bolster arts venues, cultural nonprofits and creative workers whose activities are essential to education, economic development and quality of life throughout Iowa.

'It's truly remarkable how arts and cultural organizations as well as individual artists have continued to create, innovate and keep us connected during the pandemic, despite the personal and financial challenges that many have faced,” Iowa Arts Council Administrator David Schmitz said. 'I'm so proud that our agency has the opportunity to support artists, music venues and organizations when they need it most.”

The one-time grants range from $1,500 to $175,000 and provide relief to individuals, businesses and nonprofit organizations that can demonstrate lost income and extra expenses incurred due to the pandemic. The grants may be used to offset operating expenses, as well as costs associated with reopening in person or adapting programs to virtual formats.

While the relief program was highly competitive, the department funded 75 percent of requests, demonstrating support for arts and culture statewide. Additionally, more than half of the grants were distributed to cultural organizations with annual budgets less than $250,000. The average grant for organizations and venues was just more than $25,000.

Funding was prioritized for artists and organizations that serve rural areas, culturally diverse populations or underrepresented groups.

Organizations to receive grant funding in the Union area were:

HENRY COUNTY

Midwest Old Settlers and Threshers - $76,800.

Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra - $5,000.

Swedish American Museum in Swedesburg - $8,500.

JEFFERSON COUNTY

First Fridays Art Walk - $2,500.

Fairfield Arts & Convention Center - $46,000.

Artists:

Nicholas Naioti - $2,500.

Tim Britton - $2,500.

Reena Olaniyi - $5,000.

Olobayo Olaniyi - $5,000.

WASHINGTON COUNTY

Kalona Historical Society - $8,800.

Let's Center for Healing and Creative Arts - $1,500.

Voyage Home History Museum in Riverside - $2,500.

Artists:

Keith Kozacik - $2,500.

WAPELLO COUNTY

American Gothic House Center in Eldon - $5,500.