Today the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announces new grants for arts and culture organizations under President Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The pandemic relief fund set aside $135 million for both the arts and humanities endowments, nearly double the amount that was available to cultural groups in President Trump’s CARES Act. Eligibility requirements for NEA grants have also been modified to allow for a broader pool of applicants.
At the height of the pandemic in 2020, 63% of artists and creatives experienced unemployment, according to Americans For The Arts. In Washington, D.C., Arena Stage tried to help artists by letting them advertise work-for-hire services on its website, everything from hosting yoga parties to virtual chess lessons.
Making coasters to make a living
Costume designer Ivania Stack is making personalized coasters. She’s keeping a sense of humor about it — one customer asked for a series with images of dachshunds. “I’m working on a set now that’s all the musicals that an actress has been in,” says Stack.
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