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INTRODUCTION
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced on April 10, 2009, the awarding of $19.8 million in one-time grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to state arts agencies and regional arts organizations to support the arts sector of the economy. This funding is intended to act as a bridge of support to help the national arts industry weather the immediate economic storm while continuing to fulfill their artistic and public service goals. The Nevada Arts Council (NAC) received $300,500 from the NEA to distribute $250,000 in support of jobs in Nevada’s arts industry and $50,000 to support contracted positions that manage Nevada Touring Initiative, a statewide program in jeopardy that provides visual arts exhibits and writers in residence to Nevada’s rural and smaller communities and urban neighborhoods, and the federally mandated quarterly reporting requirements of the SNAP Grant Program. To deliver its stimulus funding in a timely, transparent and targeted manner, the NAC created the new SNAP Grants Program (Sustaining Nevada’s Arts Programs) to provide FY10 one-time stimulus funding of up to $10,000 for eligible applicants to: (1) preserve critical staff as well as contracted artists, specifically, those that are at risk of elimination or reduced hours due to the economic downturn; and (2) sustain arts programming throughout the state.
ARTS GROUPS REPORT ON STIMULUS FUNDING
As the primary recipient of a Recovery Act grant through the National Endowment for the Arts, NAC submitted its first-quarter report to appropriate federal and state agencies at the end of October with data on our SNAP grantees’ use of stimulus funding. Our quarterly report noted that 19 SNAP grantees (out of 38) requested drawn-downs to support salaries of 17 full-and part-time positions, and contracts for 21 musical groups and one guest artist. Executive Director Susan Boskoff noted, “Our ‘snappers’ provided us with required information in a timely manner. It’s obvious that these grants, small as they are, are critical to the health of our arts industry. The individuals supported with stimulus funding continue to provide Nevadan's access to quality arts and arts education programs. They also contribute to local and state economies just like any other worker in Nevada.” Interested in seeing how Nevada's stimulus funding is being used? Click here.
Comments from first-quarter SNAP Grant reports:
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Because of this funding, Las Vegas Little Theatre was able to provide a professional quality set for our production of Deathtrap and enhance the overall production and audience member experience. Las Vegas Little Theatre
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By retaining the Music Director position, The Holland Project was able to grow its musical offerings and present strong all-ages musical programming despite the economic downturn, continuing to serve our member-base and youth community. The Holland Project, Reno
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The Mile High Jazz Band Association would have had to cancel this year’s Jazz Festival without this funding, which supported partial payment to 20 bands that brought more than 100 musicians to the community this fall. Mile High Jazz Band, Carson City
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Being the recipient of the SNAP grant and being able to pay our Executive Director made it possible to continue to serve our community. Moapa Valley Performing Arts Council
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Michele Calhoun-Fitts served as the Guest Artist for Nevada Shakespeare Company for this quarter, directing our education and community outreach production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, which engaged more than 5,000 Nevada youth and adults at seven different locations in the Reno /Tahoe area. Thanks to your support we were able to keep our vital programs alive and well. Nevada Shakespeare Company, Dayton
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Without funding to maintain the position of Festival Director, the Tahoe Tallac Association would not have been able to present its annual summer Valhalla Art, Music and Theatre Festival. Tahoe Tallac Association, South Lake Tahoe
SNAP GRANT REVIEW PROCESS - STIMULUS GRANTS AWARDED
A panel of sitting and past NAC Board Members reviewed 61 eligible applications during a day-long public hearing (Scoring Rubric). The panel’s funding recommendation, produced after examining four different allocation scenarios, was then considered for the full NAC Board. After a rigorous discussion, the Board approved full funding to eight organizations, with scores over 90, and the funding of 31 applicants with scores between 70 - 90 a proportionate amount of the remaining dollars. One-time grants of up to $10,000 were awarded to organizations with budgets ranging from less that $25,000 to over one million, from six counties and thirteen communities for FY10.
Tim Jones, board chair, commented on the review process, "The SNAP applications revealed the remarkable breadth of arts and cultural programming that Arts Council grantees provide to communities throughout our state. The Arts Council Board certainly could have awarded funding many times over the amount available. In the end, we recognized those applicants that presented a clear and compelling case, and a commitment to employ these precious dollars judiciously."
Four other Nevada arts organizations received stimulus funding through from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Western States Arts Federation as part of their ARRA direct grants programs. Recipients of National Endowment direct grants are the Reno Chamber Orchestra ($25,000), Clark County Division of Cultural Affairs ($50,000) and Western Folklife Center ($50,000). Sierra Arts Foundation received a grant of $18,000 from the Western States Arts Federation.
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