The Montana Arts Council (MAC) recently announced the availability of COVID-19 emergency funding to offset losses and to encourage continued creative efforts of artists in Montana. Grants awarded through the Montana CARES Individuals program will present up to $2,500 to professional artists impacted by COVID-19. The CARES Individuals grant application deadline is November 10.

With funds coming through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) as part of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, MAC has awarded funds to nonprofit organizations, artists, and cultural workers in the state. MAC is an agency of state government established to develop the creative potential of all Montanans, to advance education, to spur economic vibrancy, and to revitalize communities through involvement in the arts,

A seven-year member of the Council who serves on the committee that is administering these grants, Jay Pyette told reporters that he wanted to spread awareness about this opportunity. “As a state arts agency, we are well aware that Covid-19 has had an enormous impact on the arts in the state.”

According to Pyette, many organizations have been able to apply for and receive grants from state and national entities for relief, but individual artists have been unable to access any of those resources. Musicians, dancers, painters, and all those who have individual careers in which they showcase their talents but are now unable to hold recitals, concerts, or exhibitions have a difficult time finding financial assistance. To address this disparity, MAC is offering a program to which individuals can apply for funding in order to survive and even thrive.

“This is an awesome program because it is one of the only programs out there to which individuals can apply. Currently, the council has already awarded funds to many artists, but there are still funds available. I think it’s important for people to know that this is wide-open. Too many people think they have to be a painter or a sculptor to be called an artist, when in reality we’ve already funded artists in a bunch of different disciplines: dancers, actors, bead workers, native crafters, and woodworkers, to name a few,” Pyette said.

“An ideal candidate for this grant would be someone who creates beadwork to sell on the pow-wow circuit during the summer, for example. Yet all the pow-wows have been or are being cancelled due to COVID. That person’s artistic career has been impacted by COVID. Perfect candidate.

“In addition, we are looking for evidence of an artistic profession, demonstrated need, and evidence that the artist is worthy of investment for the future. This is such an excellent opportunity—and one usually unavailable to individuals,” Pyette concluded.

Pyette, who has years of commitment to the arts and humanities, taught theatre at Havre High School for twenty years and continues to do so at Montana State University-Northern. Also a playwright and a theatrical director, he has been the Artistic Director of the Montana Actors’ Theatre since 1992.

The funding for this program derives from the federal government through the NEA. The next deadline for artists to apply is November 10.

Interested individuals can find applications and instructions for completing those applications on the Montana Arts Council’s (MAC) website. Applications must be submitted through the MAC application portal at http://www.art.mt.gov/application. Anyone without reasonable access to a computer or high-speed internet connection or who has other technical challenges is encouraged to contact mac@mt.gov or to call (406) 444-6430.

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, U.S. citizens, and residents of Montana for at least one full year before the application deadline, and at the time of application. Another restriction suggests that applicants may not be high school or degree-seeking students.

For questions or concerns about the application process, for technical assistance, or to request a large-print or alternate format guidelines, individuals should contact Kristin Han Burgoyne at kburgoyne@mt.gov or 406-444-6449.

MAC is also offering a webinar that will showcase the new Montana CARES funding opportunities. For those joining in real time, the second half of each webinar will include time for questions. Interested artists may also register to receive the webinars for later viewing. Registration links for specific webinars are also available on the MAC website.

Through continued support of the arts in Montana, MAC envisions the state as one “known far and wide as ‘The Land of Creativity,’ [a place] where the arts are essential to the creativity, imagination, and entrepreneurship that make Big Sky Country the very best place on earth to live, learn, work, and play.”