Eligibility
The COVID Relief Fund for the Arts grant program is closed. The application deadline has passed.
To be eligible for funding, an organization must meet the definition of an arts organization (see full definition below) and fall into one of the following categories:
- Performing Arts Center - a multi-purpose facility with the primary purpose to serve as a venue for live performances, in-person classes and programming, such as theaters that present live performances
- School of the Arts - an organization that has arts education as its primary mission and offers in-person classes/instruction, such as a community art school, music school, etc.
- Performing Group - a group of artists who perform works of art, such as an orchestra, theater, chorus or dance group. To qualify as a Performing Group, the organization must either:
- own a venue in which it performs;
- spend more than 20% of its "Pre-COVID" organizational budget on fixed costs. Fixed costs may include rent, utilities, electricity, heat, telephone, internet, insurance, accounting and legal, software and online services, equipment leasing and/or maintenance; OR
- spend more than 20% of its "Pre-COVID" organizational budget for a combination of fixed costs and compensation of artists. Artists may include musicians, actors, dancers, singers and/or stagecraft technicians, for example lighting technician, sound technician, stage hands.
An arts organization is defined as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose core mission, vision, focus and legal purpose, as stated in its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, articulate a commitment to create, perform, present or promote artistic activities* AND at least 51 percent of its annual fiscal expenditures is allocated specifically to support artistic activities, arts programming, services or arts-based initiatives.
Additional Eligibility Requirements
All of the following requirements must be met:
- Have tax-exempt status under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- Demonstrate at least a 20% loss in earned income for a period from March 1, 2020 through November 1, 2020 when compared to the same period in 2019
- Had, prior to March 1, 2020, at least one (1) full-time equivalent (FTE) position (salaried or contractual) *Full time is defined as at least 30 hours per week or at least 130 hours per month.
- Been established by October 1, 2019 and be active, as verified by the Dept. of Revenue Services
- Plan to hire any workers let go due to the COVID-19 pandemic as business conditions recover
- Be and remain a viable business
- Be open or be planning to re-open
- Have a material financial need that cannot be overcome without a grant of relief funds
- Be incorporated in Connecticut
- Be in Good Standing with the Dept. of Revenue Services or be current on a payment plan
- Be registered with the Secretary of the State to do business in the State of Connecticut and be in Good Standing
NOTE: The Connecticut Office of the Arts (COA) reserves the right to request documentation as needed to determine an applicant's eligibility.
Ineligible
- Public or private schools K-12 schools that offer art classes
- Public and private universities/colleges
- Museums
- Galleries
- Organizations that are 50% or more owned by another establishment
- Organizations with a fiscal sponsor
If your organization is ineligible for the COVID Relief Fund for the Arts, we encourage you to review the CT CARES Small Business Grant Program, which is open to non-profits.