Abney: Nearly $1.8 million awarded to help District 19 arts and cultural centers rebound from pandemic

Includes nearly $400,000 for Carnegie Science Center, Andy Warhol Museum, Children’s Museum, Pittsburgh Symphony

PITTSBURGH, Dec. 19 – Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in the 19th Legislative District were awarded combined funding of $1.76 million to help them recover from the effects of the pandemic, state Rep. Aerion A. Abney, D-Allegheny, announced today.

Abney said the funding – awarded under the COVID-19 ARPA PA Arts and Culture Recovery – will help offset losses and fund operating expenses for nearly 30 district arts and cultural centers.

“The pandemic dealt a crushing blow to our local artists, museums, orchestras and other arts and cultural centers, and these organizations are rebounding more slowly than other businesses and organizations,” Abney said. “The new funding will help speed recovery for these vital groups and for the talented performers, musicians, and other artists who uplift us and help stimulate local business activity.”

Abney said the funding includes the following organizations and amounts:

  • ACH Clear Pathways – $33,449.
  • Arcade Comedy Theater Inc. – $17,341.
  • Artists Image Resource – $11,476.
  • August Wilson African American Cultural Center – $95,000.
  • Civic Light Opera Association of Greater Pittsburgh – $95,000.
  • Carnegie Institute: Carnegie Science Center – $95,000.
  • Carnegie Institute: The Andy Warhol Center – $95,000.
  • Center of Life – $62,805.
  • Chamber Music Pittsburgh – $20,259.
  • Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh – $95,000.
  • City of Asylum Pittsburgh – $37,597.
  • Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council – $43,636.
  • Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council – $264,000 for regional artists.
  • Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild – $47,183.
  • Mattress Factory Ltd. – $60,497.
  • National Aviary – $95,000.
  • New Hazlett Center for the Performing Arts – $31,333.
  • Pittsburgh International Folk Art Institute – $18,917.
  • Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy – $95,000.
  • Pittsburgh Public Theater Corp. – $78,997.
  • Pittsburgh Symphony Inc. – $95,000.
  • Pittsburgh Trust for Cultural Resources – $95,000.
  • Pittsburgh Youth Chorus – $17,276.
  • Prime Stage Theater – $13,956.
  • SLB Radio Productions – $25,823.
  • The City Theatre Company Inc. – $70,811.
  • The Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh – $18,590.
  • Three Rivers Young Peoples Orchestras – $27,054.

Funds distributed through the PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program provide grants to nonprofit arts and culture organizations located in the commonwealth. Act 54 of 2022 appropriated $15 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to the COVID-19 ARPA PA Arts and Culture Recovery Program. More about the program is available here: https://dced.pa.gov/programs/covid-19-arpa-pa-arts-and-culture-recovery-program-pacr/#:~:text=The%20COVID-19%20ARPA%20PA,arts%20and%20culture%20sector%20from.

The program is administered by the state Department of Community and Economic Development under the direction of the Commonwealth Financing Authority.