Study Explores Crucial Role of Local Arts Agencies in Distributing COVID-19 Relief Funding
October 24, 2024
An unprecedented level of federal funding made its way to the arts and culture sector as a result of relief programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. A large portion of this funding was distributed directly to arts organizations through federal programs, but a significant portion was redistributed by local entities.
In new research SMU DataArts explores how eleven local arts agencies advocated for and distributed this funding to their communities through document reviews, interviews, and qualitative data gathering.
The insights gleaned demonstrate the responsive and nimble ways these agencies operated throughout the pandemic, and the common tactics related to advocacy, process, and equity across all eleven cities may point to local arts agency best practices moving forward.
Key Findings:
Eleven Local Arts Agencies adopted a variety of strategies to distribute a cumulative $100 million in relief funds to the arts and cultural sector nationwide. Several common practices emerged in three areas:
Advocacy
- Tactics: LAAs advocated effectively through grassroots efforts and intra-governmental partnerships and proposals.
- Future Implications: External and Internal advocacy work solidified support for the sector and gave funding agencies “seats at the table” within local government funding deliberations that were not available prior to the pandemic and that LAAs will work to retain.
Process
- Trust-based approaches: Simplified applications and streamlined reporting were frequently used to get funds to cultural organizations as effortlessly and efficiently as possible. This was often possible because grantees had a history of funding from their local arts agencies and a well-known track record of delivering mission-driven public service.
- Use of funds: Funds tended to be used for one of two purposes: 1) backfill funding to cultural organizations for pandemic-related losses; and 2) creation of new agency programs designed to support recovery of the local arts and cultural sector as part of the city’s general rebound from the pandemic. Some successful initiatives even transitioned to permanent agency offerings.
Equity
- Emphasis on equity: Equitable distribution was critically important to the local arts agencies.
- Priority groups: Most agencies opted to prioritize funding for one or more of the following groups:
- organizations serving low socioeconomic communities
- organizations and artists holding specific demographic traits
- organizations serving city- and county-level communities hardest hit by the pandemic
- organizations in specific geographic areas selected to meet equity goals
Join Us Live!
Tuesday, November 12
Join us for an insightful webinar as we unpack key findings with two leaders from communities featured in the comprehensive study, Federal Recovery Funds for Local Arts and Culture: Tactics from 11 Creative Communities. Necole S. Irvin, Director, City of Houston, Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (MOCA) and Patrick Fisher, CEO, Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council will share insights and reflect on tactics implemented during critical moments throughout the pandemic.