On April 9, the Rozsa Foundation introduced two COVID-19-related granting programs, providing an investment of $400,000 into the arts sector to address emergent needs. Today, the Calgary Foundation is further bolstering Calgary’s arts sector by investing an additional $200,000 into these granting programs. These additional funds will ensure that a greater number of arts organizations receive assistance to help offset the devastating financial impacts of the current physical distancing measures.
“The Calgary Foundation has always been such a key supporter of the arts in our city, and it’s truly meaningful to have their backing when the arts sector needs it most”, says Rozsa Foundation Executive Director Simon Mallett. “This additional investment will ensure that we’re able to support more arts organizations to weather this crisis and to look forward to exciting future opportunities that will be a key part of their recovery.”
The Calgary Foundation has been assisting registered charities in Calgary and area in response to this crisis through their Pandemic Recovery Program. The two million program has been supporting the immediate needs of charities, helping them continue to serve the Calgary community and to work towards financial recovery. The $200,000 investment in the Rozsa Foundation’s COVID-19 Granting Programs is a part of these efforts.
“Supporting people to live a creative life is one of our priorities. Calgary Foundation builds a community that encourages creativity and inspires innovation, a community where everyone belongs and where all can flourish” says Eva Friesen, President and CEO of Calgary Foundation. “In this unprecedented time of emerging needs from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Calgary Foundation is proud to partner with the Rozsa Foundation to help bridge the gaps and meet time-sensitive and critical needs in the arts community.”
As a reminder, the Rozsa Foundation COVID-19 Granting Programs are twofold:
These grants will help to cover the cost of artist fees paid out to those whose contracts unfortunately had to be terminated due to COVID-19 related cancellations between March and June 2020. These funds can either be used to pay contractual obligations to artists who have not yet been paid or to restore funds already used to pay artists. These grants offer support of up to $10,000 for organizations with an operating budget up to $1 million, or up to $20,000 for organizations with an operating budget above $1 million.
This current crisis presents arts organizations with an opportunity to use technology to create new programming that can deepen connection to community and reach new audiences both now and beyond this period of physical distancing. These grants offer support to arts organizations through grants of up to $15,000 to create innovative and forward-thinking programming or activities that can be shared digitally.
Especially of interest are proposals that will use the arts in a digital format to address immediate needs in the community, including supporting the learning objectives of K-12 students, promoting mental health and wellbeing, addressing social isolation in at-risk populations, and promoting social cohesion through art, bringing people together in a cooperative spirit.
Full details, including eligibility requirements, can be found here. The application process is streamlined to make applying straightforward, and it is the goal of the Rozsa Foundation to assess applications on an ongoing basis, with notification on whether a grant can be provided within 72 hours of the receipt of the application.
Questions about the Rozsa Foundation’s COVID-19 Granting Programs can be addressed to Executive Director Simon Mallett at simon@rozsafoundation.org.
