10.30.2020 Council introduces special appropriation for additional arts and humanities relief

the Council introduced a special appropriation for additional arts and humanities emergency relief funding of $334,500. This brings the total amount of emergency assistance funding appropriated for the arts sector to $3,584,500. This additional funding ensures that all eligible arts and humanities organizations and eligible artists and scholars who applied to the Arts and Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund will receive equitable grant funding levels.

In July 2020, the Council approved a special appropriation via Resolution 19-522 to create an Arts & Humanities COVID-19 Relief Fund with $3 million designated for eligible arts and humanities organizations and $250,000 designated for eligible artists and scholars. The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC) executed the application process and reported that applications for funding exceeded expectations, with 25 percent of eligible arts and humanities organizations and 60 percent of eligible artists and scholars being first-time recipients of arts grants from AHCMC. 

AHCMC’s September 2020 survey of the arts and humanities sector in Montgomery County showed a greater negative impact from the COVID-19 pandemic than originally predicted, with $32.8 million in lost revenue and $9.3 million lost in philanthropic contributions reported. The additional funding from this special appropriation will provide an additional financial lifeline to arts and humanities organizations, artists and scholars.