The City of Pittsburgh and American Rescue Plan Act

Support for Artists Grant

 
 

The City of Pittsburgh, with funding through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), launched the Support for Artists Grant Program in 2025, facilitated by Casey Droege Cultural Productions. These ARPA funds supported the recovery of the City’s arts and culture sector from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Support for Artists program specifically supported the economic recovery of individual artists. Through this program, 75 one-time grants were awarded at levels of $500, $1,500, and $3,000. Twenty-five artists were selected for each grant amount. Grants were awarded to individual artists working in any and all disciplines who experienced a disruption to their income stream due to the COVID-19 pandemic as of March 3, 2021 or later.

Aaron Henderson

Ajunie Virk

Alecia Dawn Young

Amy Garbark

Annie Heisey

atiya jones

Autumn Hyde

Beez Designs LLC

Bria Petite

Byron Nash

Carly Heywood

Chandler Bingham

Charlese Dawson

Lavender Sedlock

Christine McCray Bethea

Cue Perry

Daniel Barnhill

Danny Bracken

Dan Meyers

Danny Rectenwald

Darrin Milliner

David Bernabo

David William

Davis Galvin

Dejah Monea

Donna Dzurilla

Ellen Jones

Ethan Isaac

Hallie Pritts

Harlan Tobe

Htet Shine

Indira Cunningham

Irene Sparks

Jamal (Prince) Williams

Jameelah Platt

Jasmine Solstice

Jena Sabom

Jeremy Burnworth

Jessica Peña Heberle

Jillian Canastraro

Jolene Dames

Juan Lafontaine

Julie Stunden

Julia He

Katie Booth

LaQuesha Hill

Lenny Riccardi

Linda Wallen

Lissa Brennan
Lori Hepner

Maranie Staab

Mars Jackson

Max Gonzales

Melissa Catanese

Melissa Sade

Mike Schiavone

Mikael Owunna

Naomi Chambers

Nick Sardo

Phillip Lewis

Quaishawn Whitlock

Rachael Starbuck

Rachel Masilamani

Robert Rubinstein

Becky Slemmons

Reiko Yamamoto

Rici B.

RJ Kozain - 2020k LLC

Sasha Jin Schwartz

Scott Andrew

Sheila Ali

Stephanie Tsong

taylor knight

tresa green

Zuly Inirio 

Eligibility

Individual artists were welcome to apply for the Support for Artists grant if they met the following eligibility criteria:

  • Must be a resident within the City of Pittsburgh municipal boundary (see map)

  • Must be at least 22 years of age (or at least 18 years of age as of March 3, 2021)

  • Must be able to demonstrate a COVID-19 pandemic-related disruption to income as of March 3, 2021 or later

  • Must be able to demonstrate having a creative practice active before and after March 3, 2021. The practice may be in one or more of the following areas:

    • Crafts

    • Dance

    • Design Arts

    • Folk/Traditional Arts

    • Literature

    • Media Arts

    • Multi-Disciplinary

    • Music

    • Musical Theater

    • Photography

    • Poetry

    • Theater

    • Video/Film

    • Visual Arts (2-D)

    • Visual Arts (3-D)

    • Writing (fiction or nonfiction)

The City of Pittsburgh allocated funds for 75 grants. Within a lottery system, the City of Pittsburgh prioritized distributing grants to the certain individual artist classifications.

  • Individual artists who did not receive any emergency grant funds from any local arts foundations during the COVID-19 pandemic (note: federally-given stimulus checks do not count)

  • Individual artists whose household income is at or below the federal poverty level

  • Individual artists whose creative practice is the sole income for the household