A Wyoming Arts Council (WAC) release has announced that applications are available for the new “Art Works for Wyoming” grant program. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is providing this one-time opportunity, and is able to offer the program as a result of its recently secured federal stimulus funding package. Any and all Wyoming arts organizations may apply, which, of course, includes Jackson arts entities. Grants are available to all qualifying arts venues.
WAC manager Rita Bascom says, “We are fortunate to live in a time when the arts are recognized for the impact they have on our economy. The fact that the NEA was included in our nation’s Stimulus Funding Plan is a credit to all of the artists, arts businesses, and nonprofit arts organizations who make their living through the arts, or hire artists to paint, dance, act, write, sculpt, design, etc. – not just at this point in time, but throughout our nation’s history.”
Throughout world history.
The program offers up to $25,000 in grants monies for projects meeting one of the following two criteria:
Salary support, full or partial, for one or more positions that are critical to an organization’s artistic mission and that are in jeopardy or have been eliminated as a result of the current economic collapse.
Fees for previously engaged artists and/or contractual personnel to maintain or expand the period during which such persons would be engaged.
Applications are due at the WAC by May 15, 2009. Applications will be forwarded to the Western States Arts Federation on June 1. June 3-5, applications will be considered and winning grants will be notified by mail on July 1. NO PAPER APPLICATIONS will be accepted.
For full application information on this program, log on to WAC’s online granting site here.
“We are excited to be a part of this national effort to save arts jobs. And we encourage all qualified Wyoming organizations to apply for funding,” Bascom said.
Tammy Christel 
