The Iroquois Museum in Howes Cave has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the American Rescue Plan and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to help it recover from the pandemic.
The Iroquois Museum will use the general operating monies to help pay salaries of staff in 2022.
Christina Johannsen Hanks, president of the museum’s board, said more than 7,000 arts organizations applied for the grant and they were one out of just 567 funded.
“I am just thrilled that the museum has received this NEA grant,”
“Being chosen confirms the outstanding work the staff does to create meaningful exhibitions and programs both for visitors at the museum and those who visit the museum virtually. The Iroquois Museum attracts visitors to our area because of its uniqueness and friendly and knowledgeable staff.”
“These have been difficult times for the museum,” said Director Stephanie Shultes, “but we have been able to retain our staff who are all part-time by applying for and receiving PPP loans; federal, state, and local grants, and donations from foundations and individuals which allowed us to create virtual programming while we were closed in 2020 and primed us to reopen in 2021.”
The American Rescue Plan was signed into law in March 2021 when the NEA was provided $135 million for the arts sector.
The funding for organizations is the third installment providing more than $57.7 million for arts organizations.