In March 2021, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) received $135 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act of 2021 to support jobs in the arts sector, keep the doors open to arts organizations nationwide, and assist the field in its response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Forty percent…
The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH) and the West Virginia Commission on the Arts are fostering creative youth development, civic engagement and rural placemaking through their new Rural Youth Engagement through Public Art Grant. The grant provides up to $5,000 for projects that directly involve youth in planning and implementing accessible…
Teaching artists play a valuable role in bridging the gap between the arts and education, bringing their unique skillsets and experience to a wide variety of classrooms and communities. However, there is limited opportunity for teaching artists to engage in professional development and share their experiences with one another on a large scale. Recognizing this…
As too many artists, arts patrons and arts leaders around the country know, natural disasters and severe weather can decimate cultural and community resources. The West Virginia Commission on the Arts (WVCA) recognizes that these threats are often unforeseen and is prepared to help arts organizations rebound in short order from devastating events like floods…
Innovative ideas may come easily to artists, educators and arts organizations, but funding opportunities to realize them can be more elusive. In West Virginia, this dilemma spawned a unique collaboration to create the Full STEAM Ahead grant program. Through it, the West Virginia Commission on the Arts (WVCA), the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and the…
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the VH1 Save The Music Foundation are collaborating to provide musical instruments for qualified K-8 schools in every county in the state. As part of its goal of restoring instrumental music education to public schools, the Foundation has provided $48 million in new musical instruments to…
The West Virginia Commission on the Arts (WVCA) and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History have introduced the ArtStability program, which is intended to provide additional mid-year support to arts organizations faced with the challenges of producing arts experiences for the public in the current economy. The award, available to recipients of fiscal…