Arts Quincy Helps Creative Sector Receive Grant Funds to Help Recover from Pandemic Losses

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity B2B Arts Grants

Earlier this spring, Arts Quincy helped area artists and arts organizations apply for the Illinois Creative Recovery/B2B Arts Grant by serving as an information hub for all of west central Illinois. The program is an historic $50 million in grant money being distributed by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to assist businesses, nonprofit organizations, sole proprietors, freelancers and independent contractors in the creative sector that have suffered losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement of grant awards was made in October.

​Arts Quincy worked as a Tier 1 Community Navigation Hub across 17 counties and in collaboration with Arts Alliance Illinois to raise awareness of the funding opportunity and help applicants successfully navigate eligibility requirements. 
“The arts and creative sector were among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding will help Western Illinois continue to recover and thrive into the future,” said Laura Sievert, Executive Director, Arts Quincy. 
B2B Arts, also known as the Illinois Creative Recovery Grants, were awarded by DCEO to eligible applicants including sole proprietors, freelancers, independent contractors, independent live venue operators, performing or presenting arts organizations, arts education organizations, cultural heritage organizations, and museums that experienced a loss in earned and/or contributed revenue of at least $5,000 due to economic disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
Awards provided to eligible businesses and nonprofit organizations under this program will be sized based on losses incurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a minimum award of $5,000.
Locally, 53 restaurants, hotels and arts organizations in Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and McDonough counties received money from the program. 
Of Arts Quincy partners, the following received funds: 

Friends of the Castle...$10,000
Golden Historical Society...$5,000
Historical Society of Quincy and Adams County...$5000
Midsummer Arts Faire...$10,000
Quincy Art Center...$10,000
Quincy Brewery & Arts...$5,000
Quincy Civic Music Association...$20,000
Quincy Community Theatre...$45,000
Quincy Concert Band...$5,000 
Quincy Museum...$10,000 
Quincy Park Band...$5,000
QPS Friends of the Performing Arts...$15,000
Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association...$10,000