In a news release issued Monday morning, the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced 278 $3,000 awards for a total of $834,000 to arts groups across the state.
Among the awardees are 16 Monroe County arts groups.
The $48,000 that went to local groups puts Monroe County fourth behind Marion, Allen, and Hamilton counties for the total awarded.
The grant money came from IAC’s Arts Recovery Program, which draws on American Rescue Plan Act through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Additional NEA money came through Arts Midwest, Indiana’s regional partner, according to the news release.
Quoted in the news release is Lewis Ricci, Indiana Arts Commission executive director: “This funding is a recognition of the value that the creative sector provides to the economic and social health of our state and nation.”
According to the Monday news release, the Arts Recovery Program supports:
- Salary support, full or partial, for one or more staff positions
- Fees/stipends for artists and/or contractual personnel
- Facilities costs such as rent and utilities, e.g., electric, phone, gas bills.
- Costs associated with health and safety supplies for staff and/or visitors/audiences
- Marketing and promotion costs
Table: Monroe County IAC Awardees
| Organization Name | Amount Awarded |
| Artisan Alley LTD | $3,000 |
| Bloomington Chamber Opera | $3,000 |
| Early Music Associates Inc | $3,000 |
| Forgotten Clefs, Inc. | $3,000 |
| Writing for a Change Foundation Bloomington | $3,000 |
| BCT Management, Inc (DBA: Buskirk-Chumley Theater) | $3,000 |
| Bloomington Chamber Singers | $3,000 |
| Bloomington Creative Glass Center | $3,000 |
| Bloomington Playwrights Project | $3,000 |
| Bloomington Symphony Orchestra | $3,000 |
| Cardinal Stage Company | $3,000 |
| Lotus Education and Arts Foundation | $3,000 |
| MidWay Music Speaks | $3,000 |
| Quarryland Men’s Chorus | $3,000 |
| Stages Bloomington | $3,000 |
| Windfall Dancers, Inc. | $3,000 |