The Orange County Arts Commission has awarded a third round of emergency relief grants totaling $16,400 to 25 members of the Orange County arts community and two arts-related nonprofit organizations. Grant amounts for individuals ranged from $500-$600 and will help recipients with essential needs such as groceries, bills, and healthcare expenses. Two organizations also received relief grants to help with operating expense including the Chelsea Theater and Daylight Community Arts Foundation.
In total, the fund has provided $57,850 in relief funds through 98 grants for artists and 9 grants for organizations.
Funds have been collected through the Orange County Arts Support Fund, an online fundraiser to benefit artists, arts industry workers, and arts organizations in Orange County. Almost $65,000 has been raised to date, made possible by 171 individual donors as well as contributions from the Triangle Community Foundation, Manbites Dog Theater Fund, Orange County Artists Guild, Women’s Voices Chorus and the North Carolina Arts Council.
The loss of audiences has made the arts one of the most hard-hit industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Orange County is home to approximately 4,000 creative industry workers and 170 arts and cultural nonprofit organizations that contribute $131M to the local economy each year*.
Future rounds of grants will open as funds become available. Donations can be made online or by check and are tax deductible. For more information, visit www.artsorange.org/supportfund.
