As part of the recent $50 million for the Maryland Nonprofit Recovery Initiative for COVID-19 Relief, the $3 million awarded to the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC) will be distributed through the Emergency Grant Program, a grant program created in response to the COVID-19 State of Emergency that provides emergency funding to arts organizations and artists for losses sustained because of programming, operations, and events that have been modified or cancelled.
Of this $3 million:
- $1 million will be available to County Arts Agencies
- $435,000 will be available to Arts & Entertainment District Management Entities
- $1,565,000 will be available to Arts Organizations and Independent Artists
All applicants above will be required to complete an application through Smart Simple to request funding. Applications will open on July 20 and must be submitted by 5 P.M. on August 3, 2020, to be considered for funding.
For complete information regarding the Emergency Grant process, including Guidelines and Rubrics, please visit our here.
For additional information regarding other (non-emergency) MSAC funding opportunities to support upcoming arts projects, programs, professional development, and more, please visit or here or contact MSAC staff.
Additional Funding Opportunities Beyond MSAC
As another part of the Nonprofit Recovery Initiative, $39 million will be allocated by the Department of Housing and Community Development to nonprofit organizations directly engaged in the economic recovery and health and human services of underserved communities or underserved populations whose budget has been directly impacted by the pandemic. To learn more about this funding opportunity, please visit the DHCD website.
The National Endowment for the Arts is currently accepting applications for Grants for Arts Projects, their principal grants program. Through project-based funding, the NEA supports public engagement with, and access to, various forms of excellent art across the nation, the creation of art that meets the highest standards of excellence, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. Projects may be large or small, existing or new, and may take place in any part of the nation’s 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. To learn more about this funding opportunity, please visit the NEA website.