Recovery Act Arts Grants now available

The Alaska State Council on the Arts is announcing the availability of $250,000 in grants to organizations through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Called "Alaska Art WORK Grants", the funds are Alaska's share of the stimulus package from the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Alaska Art WORK Grants have a narrow focus. Funding is limited to salary support or artistic contracts for positions critical to the mission of arts and culture organizations that are in jeopardy or have been lost because of the current economic climate. The maximum grant award amount is $21,000.

"We know that Alaska is behind the rest of the U.S. when it comes to economic cycles, but the nonprofit community in Alaska has already been hit hard by the reduction in support from major private foundations and donors," said Charlotte Fox, Executive Director of the Alaska State Council on the Arts. "These grants are one time only opportunities which will provide a bridge for Alaska arts organizations until they are able to develop sustainable long term funding alternatives."

Deadline for applying is July 24, with grant notification scheduled for September 1. Qualified organizations that have received a grant from ASCA since 2004 are eligible to apply, and priority will be given to those organizations that are strong artistically and administratively with a broad service to their community. The funding and reporting rules are strict for theses grants, so organizations should not apply unless they can document their losses and are capable of meeting quarterly financial reporting requirements.

The grants are available on the ASCA Web site at www.eed.state.ak.us/aksca. Organizations are urged to contact the Alaska State Council on the Arts before applying.