By Kyle Harris, Westword | Despite a smattering of live events returning in a limited capacity, those who once made a living in Denver’s performing arts and music industries are still suffering, and Denver Arts & Venues is offering another round of support from federal funds in an attempt to help out.
The city, which received $126.8 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding, will be granting $700,000 of that CARES Act money to Denver’s flailing independent performing arts and music venues, and around $300,000 to individual artists in a second round of distributions.
“The COVID pandemic has had a devastating impact on our creative arts community and the venues and employees who support it,” notes Mayor Michael B. Hancock in a statement. “These phase two funds will help provide some relief until we are all able to once again safely enjoy the work of the talented artists who are the foundation of Denver’s rich, creative culture.”
Still, the individual grants are a relative pittance considering what individuals and institutions are facing. The CARES Artist Relief Fund will offer $1,000 to artists in the City and County of Denver — $60 shy of the $1,060 median rental of a one-bedroom apartment in town in August, according to Apartment List. Venues will be eligible for up to $25,000, a fraction of the monthly rent at some local spots.
Without significant federal relief, many of these independent venues are on the brink of closure, and their former employees are on the edge, too.
Read the full article here:
https://www.westword.com/arts/denver-distributes-1-million-in-cares-act-funding-to-artists-and-venues-11815222
http://www.artsandvenuesdenver.com/covid-support/cares-venue-relief-fund (Deadline Oct. 18th)
Kyle Harris quit making documentaries and started writing when he realized that he could tell hundreds of stories in the same amount of time it takes to make one movie. Now, hooked on the written word, he’s Westword’s Culture Editor and writes about music and the arts.