More than a million dollars in federal coronavirus relief funds will help 16 nonprofit arts groups in Arizona. The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced the awards to help organizations cover staff salaries, fees for artists or contractual personnel and facilities costs.

The biggest recipients are the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona. They’ll each get $250,000 to distribute to arts organizations in their communities. 

Mitch Menchaca, director of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, told KJZZ the office will open a competitive application process in the coming weeks with grants focused on job preservation.

A statement from Mary Anne Carter, NEA chair said:

“All of us at the National Endowment for the Arts are keenly aware that arts organizations across the country are hurting, struggling, and trying to survive and that our supply of funding does not come close to meeting the demand for assistance. That said, I am enormously proud of the over-and-above efforts of the Arts Endowment staff to swiftly and professionally manage such a large amount of additional work in a relatively short period of time on behalf of the American public.” 

Grants of $50,000 were awarded to 846 organizations, including 14 in Arizona:

• Flagstaff Arts Council
• Hopitutuqaiki  (The Hopi School)
• East Valley Children’s Theatre
• Arizona Opera Company
• Ballet Arizona
• Phoenix Conservatory of Music
• Phoenix Theatre
• West Valley Arts Council
• Childsplay, Inc.
• Lead Guitar
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
• Southwest Folklife Alliance, Inc.
• Tucson Symphony Orchestra
• Del E. Webb Center for the Performing Arts