Thirty-two arts nonprofit organizations are receiving a share of $168,000 in COVID-19 Relief Grants from the San Mateo County Arts Commission. The grants range in size from $4,900 to $8,000.
Beneficiaries include Fuse Theater Education in Redwood City, which will use the funds to guide youth on producing socially responsible plays. Meanwhile, The Beat Within, which provides writing workshops at the San Mateo County Youth Services Center, will use the funds to produce virtual workshops for students.
Grants were aimed at benefiting organizations working with underserved communities or those reaching a large segment of the County, said Arts Commission Director Robin Rodricks.
“The commission is very proud of its grantees and their contribution to the health and vitality of the community,” Rodricks said. “I have received many calls and emails expressing deep gratitude for the commission’s support as these organizations try to financially recover while developing strategies to serve our county in a changing landscape.”
Other grant recipient examples:
- Arts Unity Movement, of San Mateo, will use the grant to convert their Dynamic Alignment (movement therapy) program to a digital platform.
- San Bruno Mountain Watch will use the funds to resume its art and nature field trips for students from Title 1 schools that had been postponed due to the pandemic.
- Hillbarn Theater, in Foster City, is using funds to produce online theater classes in collaboration with San Mateo Foster City School District.
- Harmony Project, which provides a free of charge after-school program of intensive, multi-year instrumental music education for underserved youth throughout the county who would not otherwise have access to quality music training.
