Updates to the Indiana Arts Commission’s Fiscal Year 2021 Programs and Services
(Indianapolis, IN) – In response to an announced 15% allocation holdback on state agencies by Governor Holcomb, the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) voted at its June Quarterly Business Meeting on 397 grants as well as program and service changes to manage the fiscal year 2021 (FY21) budget reduction of $588,074.
Actions to Date
The IAC has worked aggressively to support Hoosier artists and arts organizations during the global pandemic. The agency proactively issued nearly $1 million in final payments to fiscal year 2020 Arts Organization Support grantees which helped in part to alleviate immediate cash flow issues and provide some level of economic relief. The IAC also exempted returning Arts Organization Support grantees from participating in the panel process; and through an expedited and streamlined process, distributed $585,000 from the Indiana Arts Emergency Relief Fund which was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), Arts Midwest, and Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne with funding provided by the CARES Act.
The IAC continues to serve as a resource to connect the arts community to state and national resources such as Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and information on planning for a safe reopening of the arts and cultural sector through its website, direct communications and a series of topical webinars that totaled more than 2,000 registrants and nearly 20,000 views on Facebook alone.
New Actions following the June 12 Quarterly Business Meeting
For FY21, the IAC has prioritized the following core programs:
- Arts Organization Support (AOS) III
- Regional Arts Partnership and Regional Initiative Grants
- Arts Organization Support (AOS) I and II
- Arts Project Support (APS)
- Indiana Arts Homecoming Conference (virtual format)
- Creative Community Pathway and Indiana Cultural Districts
- Partnering Arts, Communities, and Education (PACE)
- Traditional Arts Indiana
- Poetry Out Loud Program
- Poet Laureate Program
Despite receiving a 15% cut to its FY21 state allocation, all new eligible AOS grantees will be funded and returning AOS grants will only be reduced by 4%. The agency will support the same number of APS grants statewide, ensuring funded services in all 92 counties. Grantee contract processes will be streamlined centrally through the agency rather than through the Regional Arts Partners. Direct contracting will help simplify the resolution of changes in contracted grantee services as well as maximize regional partner capacity to coach and mentor local grantees. IAC will maintain its staff and key national memberships.
The following programs and services have not been budgeted for in FY21 and will be evaluated for possible inclusion in FY22:
- Arts in the Parks and State Historic Sites Grant Program
- Individual Advancement Program Grants
- On-Ramp Career Accelerator and Fellowship (On-Ramp 2020 has been rescheduled to 2021)
- Quick Impact Place-based (QuIP) Arts Grants
- Rural Indiana Performance Fund
- Governor’s Arts Awards
- New external paid research
- Consultancies for the field
- Indiana Arts Homecoming Scholarships
As part of its reductions, the IAC has implemented and will continue administrative cost savings measures. The agency has put in place a freeze on hiring and employee travel. Administrative expenditures have been restricted to essential goods and services only.
Looking Ahead to Fiscal Year 2021
IAC Commissioners and staff are deeply committed to advancing a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity, and Access (IDEA). Through listening sessions and development of a Cultural Equity Statement, the agency is planning for a year that is focused on IDEA. The IAC will continue its capacity-building work for Indiana’s arts organizations and artists, specifically focusing on resources that will help them recover, reopen, stabilize, and re-envision.
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