The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation is administering the COVID-19 ARPA PA Arts & Culture Recovery Program to provide grants of $3,000 to eligible artists and creative professionals in Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton Counties. This initiative, funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, aims to support individuals who experienced significant income disruptions due to the pandemic. Applications are accepted exclusively online through the Foundant Grants Portal and are open from November 11, 2024, until January 27, 2025.
Eligible applicants must be 18 years or older, full-time residents of one of the designated counties, and active in the arts or culture sector, with a majority of their income (51% or more) generated from creative work in 2019. Applicants must demonstrate a pandemic-related income loss of at least $3,000 that was not compensated by other relief programs. They must also intend to continue working in their field. Proof of residency and tax returns from 2019 and a recent year (2020–2023) are required, including Schedule C, if applicable. Documentation substantiating financial losses due to the pandemic is mandatory, while artistic portfolio samples are optional but encouraged.
Applications will undergo an eligibility review by the foundation staff to verify the submission of all required documentation. A volunteer committee will evaluate the materials and assess applicants' levels of need before making grant recommendations. Notifications regarding grant decisions will be sent by the end of March 2025, with payments distributed in April 2025.
Applicants with questions can contact Megan Briggs, Vice President of Community Investments, for assistance. Additional resources and a one-page program overview are available on the foundation's website. This program represents a critical recovery effort to help artists continue their creative work and rebuild their livelihoods post-pandemic.
