Guidelines for Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program are coming soon. Be ready.

Assistance will be available soon for eligible performing arts organizations, venues, museums, cinemas, colleges and universities with performing arts programs and more through the Shuttered Venue Operators (SVOG) Grant program administered by the Small Business Administration.

Demand for this program will be high, so it’s critical to be ready and move quickly once guidelines open.

How to get ready now:

1. Check the SBA’s FAQ document for more info on eligibility. Eligibility criteria are still evolving but it’s helpful to get familiar with what’s already there.
2. Register your organization in the federal government’s System for Award Management (SAM). Anyone who does business with the federal government must be registered in SAM and you must be registered in SAM to receive direct funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and they have grant opportunities open right now.

   IAC staffer Chapin Schnick has created a great video tutorial to get you ready to apply to SAM.

3. Check out Americans for the Arts comprehensive guide to current and “coming soon” federal relief funding. Under the SVOG header there is a handy list of all the steps you can do now to be prepared for when the grant opportunity opens.