The Nebraska Arts Council is studying what stimulus money may flow to Nebraska arts projects

The National Endowment for the Arts was awarded 50 million dollars as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA. Since the state arts councils and regional organizations, (such as the NAC’s regional partner, Mid America Arts Alliance) are mandated to receive 40% of any federal allocation to the NEA, a portion of the recovery funds will be coming to the Nebraska Arts Council to administer.

Currently, the Nebraska Arts Council is working with Governor Heineman and the NEA to submit a proposal for using these funds.

According to NAC Executive Director Suzanne Wise, “The ARRA funds are all about job preservation. From my understanding of the criteria, arts organizations can use these funds only for salary support of positions that are in jeopardy or have been eliminated as a result of the current economic climate.

"It appears that funds can also be used for fees for previously engaged artists and/or contractual personnel to maintain or expand the period during which such persons would be engaged.

"In other words, an arts organization that had planned a performance and then could not book it because funds were not available can now receive ARRA funds to pay the artistic fee.”

The Nebraska Arts Council is proposing to provide an opportunity for arts organizations receiving Basic Support Grants or arts organization that meet a designated criteria to apply for ARRA funds.

“We will use a simplified application process and grant review similar to what organizations are used to.” stated Marty Skomal, Director of Programs.

No dates and deadlines have been set other than the NAC’s deadline to submit its proposed distribution plan to the NEA.

Suzanne Wise added, “It’s important for anyone who is interested in the ARRA program to go directly to the NEA’s website and read the guidelines. We certainly have not mastered the specifics of the program yet ourselves".

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