In 2021 the Arts Council of Johnson County convened the American Rescue Plan Advisory Committee, made up of arts administrators, artists, and community leaders, to identify and prioritize the four greatest impacts of the COVID pandemic on our community and arts sector and identify possible solutions. Between January and April 2022 the ACJC held 3 community forums (in-person, via Zoom, and hybrid) designed to give artists, small arts businesses, and nonprofit arts organizations an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed impacts and solutions.
During the forums, participants were provided with an overview of the American Rescue Plan Act, learned about the Advisory Committee and their process to and then reviewed the proposal. At the end of each meeting participants were asked to vote on their top 5 priority solutions to help address each of the identified impacts.
Using feedback from the forums, ACJC worked with the Advisory Committee to revise and refine our proposal for recovery fund support. In February of 2023, the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners voted to support our request of $2,073,520 from the Johnson County State & Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF).
Arts and creativity make us stronger–as individuals, families, communities, and as a county. They are the backbone of innovation, prosperity, and thriving people and places. Arts and creativity also have the extraordinary ability to support our wellbeing and cultivate a sense of connectedness. The following four icons are areas in our community that the Arts Council of Johnson County, InterUrban ArtHouse, JCPRD Culture Division, and Emporia State University are working to develop and facilitate programs that will assist in our creative industries’ recovery and community recovery.
Grant Report Forms
Johnson County COVID Recovery Grants for Artists Report Form
Johnson County COVID Recovery Grants for Nonprofit Arts Organizations Report Form
Rebuilding Artist and Arts Organization Business Infrastructure
Creative Industries Professionals and non-employer creative small businesses constitute a variety of creative fields, from visual and performance arts to designers, craftspersons, film/television workers, writers, etc. Through InterUrban ArtHouse‘s ArtWorks program, artists and Creative Industries Professionals operating small businesses receive professional development training, consultations, workshops, resources, and opportunities to start, develop, or reinforce arts-based small business practices, directly leading to increased income opportunities and an increase in entrepreneurial skills that enable these workers to run their businesses.
Community Healing
The JCPRD Culture Division has a unique opportunity to aid the community in recovery and community building utilizing fine arts, performing arts, theatre, history, and public art to facilitate continued recovery and wellness through programs, events, and projects that both bring the community together and support local artists and performers through stipends investing in the overall creative arts industry which is so vital to our recovery and growth moving forward. This funding will ensure the utilization of multiple community events, programs, and projects in bringing the community together and offer meaningful outlets through arts and culture, to create resiliency and promote health and wellbeing.
Loss of Income From Cancelled Events/Gigs
The Arts Council of Johnson County will provide financial assistance to non-employer creative small businesses (artists) and arts nonprofit organizations still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. Direct grants up to $7,500 will be awarded to approximately 82 non-employer creative small businesses or artists and 20 direct grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded to arts nonprofit organizations through an application process demonstrating hardship that is still negatively impacting business health and individual wellbeing. Previous recipients of grants administered in 2020 are eligible for these additional funds. Funds may be used for business operations, purchase of equipment, rent, payroll, and other business-related activities that provide recovery relief.
Strengthening Support Systems for Physical/Mental Health
Emporia State University (ESU) is home to one of the oldest art therapy programs in the world; the master’s level training program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs/Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education (CAAHEP/ACATE). ESU, in partnership with the Arts Council of Johnson County, is addressing the mental health and wellness needs in Johnson County, Kansas exacerbated by the Covid-19 public health emergency in three parts:
- Trauma-informed training for Johnson County educators, administrators, paraprofessionals, art center staff, and artists who interface with the public. The training is a 12-credit hour certificate program at ESU.
- Autism Spectrum (ASD) training for Johnson County educators, administrators, paraprofessionals, art center staff, and artists who interface with the public. The training is an 18-credit hour certificate program at ESU.
- Art Therapy Services at Johnson County Public Institutions, including public schools. Art therapists will be engaged to provide direct services to residents of Johnson County through designated public institutions and service organizations.
American Rescue Plan Advisory Committee Members
Emily Behrmann, Former Executive Director, Midwest Trust Center at JCCC
Diane Botwin, Botwin Commercial Development
Allison Bowman, Arts Council of Johnson County and visual artist
Enrique Chi, Art as Mentorship and musician
Lonita Cook, Theater and Film Critic and Johnson County Museum Foundation
Debbie Froelich, Johnson County Latino Leadership Network
Angi Hejduk, InterUrban ArtHouse
Susan Mong, Johnson County Parks & Recreation Culture Division
Sarah VanLanduyt, Arts Council of Johnson County
Gary Walker, Monkey Brain Art and military veteran
Joe Waters, Arts Council of Johnson County
Jennifer Wampler, Lenexa Arts Council and Arts Council of Johnson County
Hannes Zacharias, Arts Council of Johnson County and KU School of Public Administration
