Worcester Arts Council receives $250,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts

WORCESTER — The Worcester Arts Council has been chosen to receive a $250,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as part of the American Rescue Plan Act.

“NEA funds will be a tremendous relief for Worcester’s creative community, providing funding for many museums, music halls, theaters, musicians, dancers, storytellers and videographers who have suffered greatly during the shutdown," said Jen Riley, Worcester Arts Council chair, in an announcement by the city of Worcester.

"The Worcester Arts Council is poised to bring Worcester back to life by supporting arts and culture for all. NEA funding couldn’t come at a better time," Riley said.

The American Rescue Plan Act includes $135 million in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts to support organizations and jobs in the arts sector that have been impacted by the pandemic.

On Nov. 18, the NEA announced grants totaling $20,200,000 to 66 local arts agencies.

"The NEA’s significant investment in local arts agencies, including the Worcester Arts Council, is a key element in helping the arts and culture sector recover and reopen, while ensuring that American Rescue Plan funding is distributed equitably,” said Ann Eilers, NEA’s acting chair. “These grants recognize the vital role of local arts agencies and will allow them to help rebuild local economies and contribute to the well-being of our communities.”

The Worcester Arts Council is a municipal body consisting of nine members appointed by City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. It is part of a statewide network of 329 Local Cultural Councils supported through the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

The WAC gives grants to individuals and organizations in the arts with the funding it receives.

“This grant is critical in helping our arts community continue to recover from the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Augustus said.

“I thank the National Endowment for the Arts for their recommendation of this grant, and I congratulate the Worcester Arts Council as a recipient,” Augustus said. “The Arts Council does tremendous work in promoting access to arts and culture for all Worcester residents, and this grant is a significant boost to those efforts.”

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Arts Council gets $250,000 grant from the NEA