4 Mahoning Valley Arts Organizations Receive State Grants
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Four Mahoning Valley arts and entertainment entities were awarded funds in the latest round of the Ohio Arts Economic Relief Grant Program.
The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown received the biggest share, a $319,331 grant. Other recipients are Youngstown Symphony Society, $106,460; JAC Management Group Packard LLC of Warren, $65,547; and Opera Western Reserve of Youngstown, $12,036.
The awards are part of $20 million given to 104 arts-based organizations in 33 counties. They were announced Friday by Gov. Mike DeWine, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted and Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development.
The Butler will use the grant for operating expenses, including all aspects of accessibility, and improvements to its art storage capabilities, said Louis A. Zona, executive director of the museum.
The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra will use its grant to help fund its 2023-24 season, with a portion going toward the upkeep of the DeYor Performing Arts Center, said Kelly McKee-Foos, spokesperson for the YSO and Opera Western Reserve.
The opera company, she said, will use its grant for its Nov. 17 production of “Carmen.”
Tickets for the YSO’s upcoming season and OWR’s “Carmen” went on sale Friday, McKee-Foos said.
JAC Management-Packard Hall will use its grant primarily for employee recruitment, employee training and ever-increasing operational costs, said Ken Bigley, vice president.
The grants are part of the second round of the Ohio Arts Economic Relief Grant Program. In total, more than $43 million in grants have been announced for 243 arts organizations across the state.
“Ohio artists and arts organizations make our state an attractive place to live, work and raise a family,” DeWine said.
The grant program was created in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly as part of a bill sponsored by Sen. George Lang of West Chester, R-4th, which was later merged into House Bill 45. The first round, announced in May, awarded more than $23 million to 139 organizations.
The program is funded as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, and awards were calculated based on organizations’ loss in revenue from 2019 to 2020 and 2021 and their 2022 operating budget.
Pictured at top: The Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
