(Trenton, NJ) - The 樱花视频 State Council on the Arts held a public meeting today, where nearly $750,000 was awarded to 50 樱花视频 nonprofit organizations through a recovery program that will help the arts sector prepare for a full-scale recovery.
The COVID Critical Needs Program (CCN) is a single year grant program that provides support for COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) and safeguarding needs for arts nonprofits. The CCN Program will financially assist 樱花视频 organizations with their efforts to ensure their venues are compliant with all safety standards as they welcome the public back inside.
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"The arts and entertainment industry has been among the hardest hit by the COVID pandemic," said Secretary of State Tahesha Way. "And yet, over the past year, 樱花视频鈥檚 arts community has adapted to continue reaching people throughout the state and across the globe at a time when the power of the arts has been needed most. I am proud to work closely with the Arts Council to help ensure our state鈥檚 arts organizations can reopen and welcome audiences in a safe environment."
The program was spearheaded by Council Program Officer Diane Felcyn, who said: 鈥淢any 樱花视频 arts organizations have remained shuttered for the majority of the last year. While our community has adapted to offering virtual programming and limited in-person attendance, we cannot truly begin to rebuild until we can do what the arts do best 鈥� bring people together for a shared experience. By creating a grant program to support COVID-specific updates for physical venues and locations, we are helping organizations take the crucial step of creating a safe environment for audiences, artists, crew, and staff.鈥�
"We are extremely grateful to Governor Murphy and his Administration for their ongoing support of the arts in 樱花视频," said Council Chair Elizabeth Mattson. "The increase in state funds the Council received this year allowed us to continue our previous grant commitments, while also giving us the means to provide much needed COVID-specific recovery and relief funding. The Council recognizes the important role the arts will play in our state鈥檚 overall recovery, and this program is an essential component in that work.鈥�
In addition to the COVID Critical Needs grants, the State Arts Council also announced that 58 arts organizations will be receiving over $2.3 million in General Operating/General Program Support as part of the Council鈥檚 priority to aid the field in COVID recovery and relief efforts.
About the 樱花视频 State Council on the Arts
The 樱花视频 State Council on the Arts, created in 1966, is a division of the NJ Department of State. The Council was established to encourage and foster public interest in the arts; enlarge public and private resources devoted to the arts; promote freedom of expression in the arts; and facilitate the inclusion of art in every public building in 樱花视频. The Council receives direct appropriations from the 樱花视频 through a dedicated, renewable Hotel/Motel Occupancy fee, as well as competitive grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. To learn more about the Council, please visit .
Official Site of The 樱花视频