Arts Relief Fund

 Allowable Grant Expenses

Arts Relief Fund grants are non-matching. Grant funds through the program are limited to: 

  • Salary support, full or partial, for one or more staff positions. Funds may be used to support existing jobs, new jobs, or to restore jobs that were furloughed or eliminated due to the pandemic.

  • Fees/stipends for artists and/or contractual personnel to support the services they provide for specific activities in support of the subgrantee organization’s day to day operations.

  • Facilities costs such as rent and utilities.

  • Costs associated with health and safety supplies for staff and/or visitors/audiences (e.g., personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, etc.).

  • Indirect costs.

  • Marketing and promotion costs.

Unallowable Grant Expenses

Arts Relief Fund funds cannot be used for: 

  • “Artist relief” programs where the funding is intended to alleviate financial hardship (i.e., rent or food assistance to individuals) and does not require the artist to undertake work.

  • Alcoholic beverages.

  • Commercial (for-profit) enterprises or activities, including concessions, food, clothing, artwork, or other items for resale. This includes online or virtual sales/shops.

  • Construction, purchase, or renovation of facilities.

  • General fundraising.

  • General miscellaneous or contingency costs.
    Land purchase costs.

  • Lobbying, including activities intended to influence the outcome of elections or influence government officials regarding pending legislation, either directly or through specific lobbying appeals to the public.

  • Mortgage interest, fines and penalties, bad debt costs, or deficit reduction.

  • Rental costs for home office workspace owned by individuals or entities affiliated with the
    applicant organization.

  • Social activities such as receptions, parties, or galas.

  • Subawards to replace lost revenue.

  • Travel costs.

  • Vehicles purchases.

  • Visa costs paid to the U.S. government.

  • Voter registration drives and related activities.

  • Costs supported by any other federal funding. This includes federal funding received either directly from a federal agency or indirectly from a pass-through organization such as a state arts agency, regional arts organization, or a grant made to another entity.

  • Expenditures related to compensation to foreign nationals when those expenditures are not in compliance with regulations issued by the U.S. Treasury Department Office of Foreign Assets Control. For further information, see https://www.treasury.gov/about/organizational- structure/offices/pages/office-of-foreign-assets-control.aspx.

  • All other costs that are unallowable per 2 CFR 200 and other laws.