PHOTO BY ROY HEERKENS JR.
A scene from Blackfriars Theatre's 2019 production of "Detroit '67." The pandemic forced Blackfriars and many other small and mid-sized arts organizations to shut down for 14 months, which has had financially devastating results.
Responding to mounting complaints from small arts organizations that they have been shut out of public funding for the arts, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello on Monday unveiled a $2 million grant program for the groups.
The program, named JumpstARTS, is financed by federal CARES Act monies and will offer three tiers of grants between $5,000 and $20,000 for eligible organizations, Bello said.
“Many small and mid-sized arts organizations don't have the same level of philanthropic and government support as our larger organizations, yet their impact in the community is undeniable,” Bello said. “We need to ensure these organizations have the resources needed to be successful coming out of this pandemic.”