INSIGHTi

CARES Act Arts and Cultural Provisions
May 27, 2020
On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136)
was signed into law. The law includes several provisions that make supplemental appropriations to federal
arts and cultural organizations. This CRS Insight provides an overview of these provisions and
information, where relevant, on how arts and cultural organizations can apply for federal assistance
through this funding.
In addition to the resources below, arts and cultural organizations may be eligible for funding from the
Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program; for more information on that program,
see CRS Insight IN11324, CARES Act Assistance for Employers and Employees—The Paycheck
Protection Program, Employee Retention Tax Credit, and Unemployment Insurance Benefits: Overview
(Part 1).
Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) received $50 million through the CARES Act, “to
prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, including grants to States, territories and tribes to
expand digital network access, purchase internet accessible devices, and provide technical support
services.” Of this total, $30 million was distributed to states, the District of Columbia, territories, and
Freely Associated States through the Grants to States program. The program used the state allotment
formula to distribute this funding to State Library Administrative Agencies. Another $15 million of the
total is to be distributed through two programs: IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries
($13.8 million) and IMLS CARES Act Grants for Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum and
Library Services ($1.2 million). Although IMLS grants usually require matching funds, the CARES Act
waived those requirements for any grants made available under the law. As of May 19, 2020, the IMLS
has not announced how the remaining $5 million will be used.
Libraries may inquire about the Grants to States funding through their State Library Administrative
Agencies.
Application information for the IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries and the IMLS
CARES Act Grants for Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum and Library Services is available
from IMLS.
Congressional Research Service
https://crsreports.congress.gov
IN11409
CRS INSIGHT
Prepared for Members and
Committees of Congress

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Congressional Research Service
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National Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) received $75 million through the CARES Act “to prevent,
prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally, to be distributed in grants.”
Under the law, 40%, or $30 million, is to be distributed to state art agencies and regional arts
organizations for their funding programs; 60%, or $45 million, is to be distributed through competitive
grants to eligible nonprofit organizations, including arts organizations, local arts agencies, statewide
assemblies of local arts agencies, and arts service organizations. All applicants must be previous NEA
award recipients from FY2017 to FY2020. Grants may be for salary support, fees for artists and
contractual personnel, and/or facilities costs. Awards are to be made to impact a broad constituency,
including organizations representing a wide geographic range and those serving underserved populations.
Matching requirements for grants may be waived.
Arts organizations may inquire about funding through their state and/or regional arts organization, and
information about the competitive grants is available from the NEA.
The NEA has posted a site for CARES Act Guidelines: Frequently Asked Questions.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) received $75 million through the CARES Act “to
prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally, to be distributed in
grants.” Under the law, 40%, or $30 million, of these funds is to be distributed to state humanities
councils; 60%, or $45 million, is to be distributed through competitive grants to at-risk humanities
positions and projects. All requirements for matching grants may be waived for grants made through
CARES Act funding.
Cultural organizations may inquire about funding through their state humanities council, and information
about the competitive grants is available from the NEH.
The NEH has posted a site for FAQs – Funding for NEH Applicants and Grantees Impacted by the
Coronavirus.
Appropriations for Arts and Cultural Institutions
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Kennedy Center), the Smithsonian Institution, and
the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development (IAIA) are arts and
cultural organizations that also received funding through the CARES Act for Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) related purposes. The funding for these organizations is meant for their own operations, not
for grants to other organizations.
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The Kennedy Center received $25 million through the CARES Act for activities, including funding for
“deep cleaning and information technology to improve telework capability and for operations and
maintenance requirements related to the consequences of coronavirus.” Information on how the Kennedy
Center is allocating its CARES Act funding can be found here.
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution received $7.5 million through the CARES Act, including funding for “deep
cleaning, security, information technology, and staff overtime.” As of May 19, 2020, the Smithsonian
Institution has not announced how the funds will be used.

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Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development
IAIA is a public tribal college in Santa Fe, NM, that focuses on Native American art. It received $78,000
through the CARES Act to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus. As of May 19, 2020,
IAIA has not announced how the funds will be used.


Author Information

Shannon S. Loane

Senior Research Librarian




Disclaimer
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IN11409 · VERSION 1 · NEW

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