PROVIDENCE, RI – U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline today announced that six Rhode Island arts organizations have been awarded a total of $450,000 in competitive grant funding from the American Rescue Plan to help cover payroll costs and pandemic-related expenses.  The grants were awarded through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

“These American Rescue Plan grants will support local artists, create jobs, and help our arts and culture sector continue to recover,” said Senator Reed.

“Arts organizations continue to face new, costly challenges as the pandemic evolves,” said Senator Whitehouse.  “This funding from the American Rescue Plan will help ensure these small businesses can continue contributing to the local economy and to our great quality of life in Rhode Island.”

“Rhode Island’s independent artists and venues are an integral part of our state’s rich arts and culture community, and we want them to continue to thrive long after the pandemic has eased,” said Congressman Langevin.  “This funding from the American Rescue Plan will help our local arts organizations shoulder these temporary pandemic-related costs and support their long-term success.”  

“The pandemic and safety measures we’ve taken to help limit the spread of COVID have unfortunately hit hard arts organizations here in Rhode Island and around the country,” said Congressman Cicilline.  “These American Rescue Plan grants will help Rhode Island’s cultural institutions weather this storm and continue to enrich our communities.”

The funding will go to the following organizations:

  • Alliance of Artists Communities, Providence – $100,000
  • Dirt Palace Public Projects, Providence – $50,000
  • DownCity Design, Providence – $100,000
  • Spectrum Theatre Ensemble, Providence – $100,000
  • Everett Arts Incubator, Providence – $50,000
  • Riverzedge Arts, Woonsocket – $50,000

The NEA awarded grants to 567 arts organizations in this round, totaling more than $57 million.  The agency received more than 7,500 applications requesting $695 million.