Creative Waco launches American Rescue Plan grant program for artists and arts organizations.

June 15, 2022 – Creative Waco will regrant $250,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan over the next two years to support the arts and cultural sector’s pandemic recovery.

In Fall 2021, the National Endowment for the Arts announced its $20,200,000 American Rescue Plan grant program that would provide selected Local Arts Agencies to regrant at local level across the USA. The goal is to aid recovery and support beneficial arts initiatives following the pandemic. Creative Waco was selected as one of four grant recipients in Texas

Creative Waco is now accepting applications from individual artists/creatives and arts non-profits across McLennan County to apply at creativewaco.org/arpa/. The application webpage explains who is eligible and tackles “frequently asked questions” that potential applicants might have.

“We want to make this application process as accessible, equitable, and supportive as possible for the diverse creatives in our community,” says Soledad Bautista, Creative Waco’s Director of Professional Development and Outreach. “We have structured the application in two stages so that we can help people who may be applying for a grant for the first time and might be nervous about asking for help to turn a great idea into reality.”

The specific goals of Waco’s grant program are:

• To facilitate post-pandemic recovery (social, economic, and/or educational)
• To connect diverse people and spark healing, understanding, joy or kindness
• To develop, support, or retain outstanding diverse artistic talent
• To reach, include, and benefit traditionally underrepresented communities

Grants are available from $1,000 to $10,000 to individual artists and creative professionals, and from $3,000 to $15,000 for arts non-profit organizations. Anyone interested in applying can find information and application details at www.creativewaco.org/arpa/.

“When we distribute resources, we also surround individuals and organizations with other factors for success, such as connections with potential partners, mentors, marketing expertise, and knowledge about how to grow and become sustainable over time,” Creative Waco’s Executive Director, Fiona Bond, agrees. ”We’re not just supporting creative projects; we are investing in a creative economy of talented and supportive creatives who can learn from each other and do amazing things that benefit our whole community.”