(Studio 84 news release – Nov. 5) — Governor Tony Evers announced that $15 million in COVID-19 Cultural Organization Grants has been awarded to 385 cultural organizations across Wisconsin. Studio 84, a nonprofit art studio in Whitewater that specializes in the creative development of people with disabilities is one of these award winners.
“Just like small businesses, cultural organizations have taken a major financial hit,” said DOA Secretary Joel Brennan. “We’re all in this together. We hope that these funds will make it possible for us to be able to enjoy the museums, theaters, and music from these organizations once it is safe to do so again.”
Administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), the COVID-19 Cultural Organizations Grant program provides grants to nonprofit organizations whose primary missions are to produce, present, or exhibit cultural disciplines such as music, dance, theater, literature, and the visual arts, or items of environmental or scientific interest. Grant awards can be used to cover pandemic-related impacts such as lost revenue, increased workers’ compensation costs, cleaning and sanitization, and purchases of services or equipment to facilitate telework by employees.
Director of Studio 84, Deborah Blackwell, said, “We are very grateful for this award. We lost almost four months of revenue, and continue to do so even though we are open again with students. In order to keep safe distancing and with reduced staff/volunteer availability we are only able to be open at a 20-30% capacity with artists. Donations became nearly nonexistent and have been slow to come back also. While this grant will assist in a small way to keep us open, we are still in need of donations to keep us moving forward until we can be fully functioning again.” Blackwell states that the artists really missed their programming and are so glad to be back.
You can visit Studio 84 at www.studio84inc.org to donate online or mail in donations to Studio 84, 121 W. Center St. Whitewater, WI 53190
More information regarding the COVID-19 Cultural Organization Grant Program is available HERE. A full list of grant winners is available HERE. Banner note: Per this list, Studio 84 was awarded $8906.41, and Whitewater Arts Alliance, $3855.95.
