IL Arts Groups Awarded $1M As Part Of Stimulus

By Alexander Hough in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 8, 2009 8:20PM

The National Endowment for the Arts announced the 631 recipients of $29,775,000 in direct grants as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Twenty-four Illinois organizations will receive a total of $1,025,000, with all but $100,000 being given to twenty-one Chicago- and Evanston-based groups.

Of the $50 million given to the NEA through the Recovery Act, the agency has allocated approximately $380,000 for its own administrative and support expenses stemming from the stimulus program, well under the $500,000 allowed by the Act. The Act further stipulates that 60% of the remainder be given to arts organizations in these one-time grants. Organizations were eligible to apply for the grants if they had previously received an NEA grant between 2006 and 2009, a group which the NEA notes includes 3,400 organizations from every Congressional district.

The remaining 40% has already been given to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations for re-granting. The most recent financial statement reports that $19,844,312 has been given to state and regional groups, with $361,600 awarded to Illinois via the Illinois Arts Council. Although this program allows arts organizations that were ineligible according to the NEA guidelines a chance to receive money, the IAC has similar legacy requirements. The deadline for applying for this grant money was June 15.

All money awarded through the Recovery Act is required to be spent either on salary support for one or more positions that have been jeopardized or eliminated because of the recession, or on fees for previously-engaged artists or contractual personnel to maintain or expand their engagement. [Reader]