The West Virginia Division of Culture and History with the West Virginia Commission on the Arts (WVCA) is announcing the grant awards for the West Virginia Arts Recovery stimulus grants, designed to support job preservation in arts organizations who contribute to the economic, educational and cultural vitality of local communities throughout the state.
In April, the Federal government announced a $50 million investment in the arts through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). These grants are part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), a federal stimulus program designed to aid in the economic recovery of our state and nation. The $296,000 available through the NEA was awarded in May and the federal stimulus program allowed the Commission to support 15 arts organizations. These funds will allow those recipients to retain or restore 15 positions at arts organizations across the state.
In addition to the 15 grants the WVCA is announcing, three other West Virginia arts organizations received support directly from the NEA through a competitive grant opportunity. The Wheeling Symphony, The Clay Center and The Greenbrier Valley Theatre were each awarded $50,000 for job preservation. A complete list of the 15 arts organizations is attached.
“Through the WVCA and the NEA we have saved 18 jobs in West Virginia, continuing the vital role the arts have in our workforce,” said Jeff Pierson, director of arts for the Division.
For more information about the West Virginia Arts Recovery Program, contact Pierson at (304) 558-0240, ext. 717 or by e-mail at jeff.pierson@wvculture.org.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
West Virginia Arts Recovery Stimulus Grant Awards
Actors Guild of Parkersburg, $30,000 for a Technical Director
ArtsLink, Inc., $6,000 for an Administrative Coordinator
Arts Monongahela, $29,500 for an Executive Director
Augusta Heritage Center, $9,787 for a Programming Coordinator
Charleston Ballet, $25,000 for an Artistic Director
Charleston Stage Company, $17,500 for a Company Administrator
Heartwood in the Hills, $11,000 for an Artistic Director
Huntington Museum of Art, $20,000 for a Museums and Schools Coordinator
Morgan Arts Council, $30,000 for an Executive Director
Oglebay Institute, $31,221 for a Director of Education
Parkersburg Art Center, $30,000 for a Facility Manager
Randolph County Commission on the Arts, $20,000 for a Communications Coordinator
West Virginia Professional Dance, $9,892 for an Artistic Director
West Virginia State University, $16,100 for a Program Assistant
Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia, $10,000 for an Artist in Residence
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