On Wednesday, July 1, 2020, the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) announced the recipients of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Relief Fund for Organizations grants. Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, this competitive grant program was established to provide general operating support to arts and cultural organizations in the West that have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The application for the funds opened on May 6 and closed on May 11 due to high demand.
Eligible organizations included 501(c)(3) nonprofits, units of state or local government, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and federally recognized Indian tribal governments. Applications were reviewed by four separate panels of sixteen volunteers from the WESTAF region on June 15-17 and assessed on inclusivity, demonstrated need, artistic and cultural merit, and public and community benefit. Awards are being made to organizations across the West, with a minimum of one grant awarded to each state in the region, which includes the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
A total of $85,000 will go to five Arizona organizations.
Arizona Grantees
Central School Project
$10,000, Bisbee, AZ
Black Theatre Troupe
$20,000, Phoenix, AZ
Museum of Indigenous People
$20,000, Prescott, AZ
Southern Arizona Arts & Cultural Alliance
$15,000, Tucson, AZ
Southwest Folklife Alliance
$20,000, Tucson, AZ
Banner image: Acoma Pueblo Buffalo Dancers and Singers for the “Journeys in Spirit” exhibit at the ‘Tis Gallery. Photo courtesy of Museum of Indigenous People, Prescott, AZ.
