SAINT LOUIS, Mo. — Artists and arts organizations hit hard during COVID-19 are now getting some much-needed funding thanks to the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis.
In October 2022, the RACSTL received $10.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding from the passage of City Board Bill No. 66. Back then, Mayor Tishaura Jones, the board of aldermen and the comptroller unanimously approved the funding. Fast forward to 2024, the RACSTL along with the Community Development Administration can disperse funding to its first round of ARPA for the Arts awards.
It was created to address income and revenue lost during the height of the pandemic. 166 local artists and 54 arts organizations received more than $3 million in grants.
“Our team worked diligently to make the process as easy as possible for applicants,” Tracey Morgan, ARPA for the Arts lead, said in a news release. “In less than four months, we distributed this money to artists and arts organizations who are still recovering in St. Louis.”
The following organizations were awarded:
- Ward 4 - Cinema St. Louis.
- Ward 5 - St. Louis Filmworks and Winter Opera St. Louis.
- Ward 6 - Ignite Theatre Company.
- Ward 7 - Intersect Arts Center, Stray Dog Theatre, Pianos for People, and The Luminary, Inc.
- Ward 8 - National Blues Museum, South Broadway Art Project Sbap, St. Louis Fringe, Perennial, Springboard to Learning Inc. and Landmarks Association of St. Louis Inc.
- Ward 9 - Consuming Kinetics Dance Company, The St. Louis Actors Studio, World Chess Museum Inc., Gateway Men's Chorus, St. Louis Cathedral Concerts and Craft Alliance.
- Ward 10 - Broad & Roses Missouri, CommUNITY Arts STL, St. Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce, Union Avenue Opera Theatre and St. Louis Artworks.
- Ward 11 - Circus Flora Inc., Equally Represented Arts, Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective, St. Louis African Chorus, Upstream Theater, Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis, That Uppity Theatre Company, Metro Theater Company, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Sheldon Arts Foundation, Jazz St. Louis, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, St. Louis Classical Guitar, Dance St. Louis, HEAL Center for the Arts, Double Helix Corporation, Bach Society of St. Louis, St. Louis Volunteer Lawyers & Accountants for the Arts and International Photography Hall of Fame.
- Ward 13 - North St. Louis Arts Council.
- Ward 14 - Central Print, YourWords STL, Circus Harmony, Art Saint Louis and The Griot Museum of Black History.
Arts and culture create big business in St. Louis.
According to the recent Americans for the Arts - Arts and Economic Prosperity 6 study, the sector contributes nearly $868 million to the city and county. The arts and culture sector also provides at least 12,000 jobs and pays upward of $611 million in wages. Arts and culture also contribute more to the Missouri economy than agriculture, construction, and transportation according to the study.
RACSTL will distribute the remaining ARPA for the Arts funding to St. Louis City artists and arts organizations that have projects that support tourism growth.
To watch 5 On Your Side broadcasts or reports 24/7, 5 On Your Side is always streaming on 5+. Download for free on Roku, Amazon Fire TV or the Apple TV App Store.
