New Fund Provides Support to Arts Sector by Offsetting Costs Related to COVID-19

Pittsburgh – May 10, 2021 – Arts nonprofits and venues in Western Pennsylvania can soon access financial relief for costs related to COVID-19 venue and staff safety measures thanks to a new grant program by the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council. The Audience Safety Fund provides reimbursements of up to $500 for the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other venue safety upgrades in response to the pandemic to organizations with budgets of $500,000 or less.

The Arts Council will begin accepting applications for the Audience Safety Fund on Monday, June 14, 2021 at 9 a.m. There are no deadlines and applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Forty percent of the fund will be reserved to specifically support BIPOC-led organizations.

“As COVID-19 vaccinations continue to become more prevalent, arts organizations and venues are making plans to re-open to the public, which includes adjusting venue spaces, purchasing safety equipment, staff training, and more,” said Mitch Swain, CEO of the Arts Council. “These are out-of-pocket costs for nonprofits and venues that have largely been closed to the pandemic for months. Our hope is that this fund can provide some financial relief.”

This fund can be applied to both new and proposed spending. The fund will also reimburse expenditures that have been made since April 2020. The Audience Safety Fund does not cover programming or production expenses, marketing expenses, or general operating expenses.

The Arts Council began fundraising for the Audience Safety Fund during the holiday giving season in 2020. In total, more than $12,000 has been raised from individual donors in the Pittsburgh area. In order to help more organizations, the Arts Council continues to raise money and those interested in supporting the region’s arts and cultural organizations can donate to the Audience Safety Fund, enabling the Arts Council to support more applicants.

To learn more about Audience Safety Fund eligibility and application guidelines, visit the Arts Council’s website here.

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Category

Grantmaking

About the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council

The Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council champions the arts in Southwestern Pennsylvania, providing financial, professional, and political support for the arts and culture sector. Comprised of more than 600 diverse artists and nonprofit organizations, the Arts Council offers valuable research, legal and business consulting, networking and professional development opportunities so that artists, as well as arts leaders and organizations, can grow their skills and advance their practice. The Arts Council provides grants for artists and arts organizations, leads the region's arts advocacy at the local, state, and national level, and models best practices for accessibility and equity in the arts.

For interviews with the Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council, image use requests, and any other media questions, please contact Manager of Communications Lisa Cunningham at 412-391-2060, ext. 227 or lcunningham@pittsburghartscouncil.org.