Iowa museums, historic sites and other cultural organizations that have been affected by the derecho storm may be eligible for a recovery grant from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
Grants of up to $5,000 are intended to support Iowa humanities organizations impacted by the August windstorm, including museums, historic properties, preservation and historical organizations, and community and cultural organizations located in the 16 counties designated as disaster relief areas, according to criteria from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Funding is made possible through a Chairman’s Grant for Disaster Mitigation from the National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal agency. The NEH awarded $30,000 to the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs to redistribute to eligible Iowa humanities organizations.
“This summer’s windstorm caused damage that will take Iowa’s most impacted cultural organizations time and effort to repair," Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs Director Chris Kramer said. "With the NEH's support, we are pleased to be able to help organizations care for their local collections put at risk by the storm."
The Iowa Arts & Culture Emergency Relief Fund provides short-term financial relief for those in the arts, cultural, creative and humanities fields most impacted by state disaster declarations, natural disasters, and other forms of emergencies and is administered by the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs.
"We appreciate the federal support from the NEH and our Congressional delegation," Iowa Arts Council Administrator David Schmitz said. "These funds will make such a difference for Iowans facing yet another challenge this year."
Applications for the grants will be considered on a rolling basis as long as funds are available. Applicants can find details online at iowaculture.gov.
The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and its three divisions – the Iowa Arts Council, Produce Iowa - State Office of Media Production and the State Historical Society of Iowa – empower Iowa to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by connecting Iowans to the people, places and points of pride that define our state. The department’s work enables Iowa to be recognized as a state that fosters creativity and serves as a catalyst for innovation where the stories of Iowa are preserved and communicated to connect past, present and future generations.