U.S. Department of Justice Grant Opportunity for Arts-Based Organizations

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) at the U.S. Department of Justice released a funding opportunity, Arts Programs for Justice-Involved Youth, to directly support “high-quality arts programs for justice-involved youth to reduce juvenile delinquency, recidivism, and/or other problem and high-risk behaviors.” The purpose of this funding is to support and strengthen collaborations between arts-based organizations and juvenile justice systems to develop, expand, or enhance effective interventions that provide access to high-quality art programs with and for justice-involved youth.

Applicants may propose programs that engage youth across the juvenile justice system, ranging from arts education for youth in secure facilities to arts programs as alternatives to incarceration and/or as strategies to support successful reentry into communities. Eligible arts programs may include but are not limited to painting, sculpting, drama, digital media, film, music, dance, singing, and creative writing.

• This competitive grant opportunity is open to nonprofit organizations, local units of government, and Native American tribal governments.
• Awards are up to $66,500 with an 18-month performance period.
• There is no match requirement.

Applications are due by July 18, 2022.

The full announcement can be found here: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/funding/fy2022/O-OJJDP-2022-171360 or by searching grants.gov using the Funding Opportunity Number: O-OJJDP-2022-171360. OPERA America encourages all interested opera companies and related organizations to apply because a significant number of applicants will significantly increase the likelihood of millions in additional funding for Arts Programs for Justice-Involved Youth in subsequent federal funding bills.

U.S. Conference of Mayors Adopt Resolutions Supporting the Arts and Cultural Sector

The U.S. Conference of Mayors, the official non-partisan organization of 1,400 cities with populations of 30,000 or more, unanimously passed Resolution 93 in support of ongoing federal relief for the arts and culture sector led by the mayors of San Francisco and Chicago, among additional resolutions (see below) advancing the arts.

• Resolution Number 90: Arts And Culture Funding for FY2023 Federal Appropriations — Urges Congress to increase NEA/NEH funding to $203.55 million each with a path to $1 per capita as well as $52 million for the museum division of Institute of Museum and Library Services.)
• Resolution Number 92: National Arts and Humanities Month - October 2022 — Urges mayors to designate October as National Arts and Humanities Month in their cities.
• Resolution Number 74: Support Congressional Creative Economy Legislation — Urges Congress to pass the many creative industries legislation before them.

A group of mayors also sent a letter to Congress calling for action to improve and extend COVID-19 relief, echoing the theme of Resolution 93.