Peoria Times
14 FEATURES
July 16, 2020
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Federal CARES Act Funds provide Peoria closes recreation and relief to Arizona arts organizations community centers BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF Across the state, federal relief funds are coming to Arizona communities to support nonprofit arts and culture organizations experiencing significant hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since July 1, 107 grants totaling $1.72 million have been announced. Statewide grantees TheaterWorks, a community/youth theater organization in Peoria, Catitude Gallery and Studio, a community arts center in Goodyear, a performing arts center in Wickenburg, a symphony orchestra in Yuma, Prescott’s Museum of Indigenous Peoples, Phoenix’s historic Black Theatre Troupe and arts centers in Bisbee and Kingman. The grants are funded through a $75 million allocation to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The Arizona Commission on the Arts announced the recipients of its AZ CARES grants. Each of the 86 recipients will receive $5,000. According to the Arts Commission’s Organizational Programs Manager, Claudio Dicochea, “Because artists and creatives are the engines that propel much of the value that organizations make available to their communities, AZ CARES builds on the foundation provided by the
BY PEORIA TIMES STAFF
TheaterWorks of Peoria and Catitude Gallery, a community arts center in Goodyear, received CARES arts grants. (Photos courtesy Catitude)
NEA in focusing on organizations that are centering or upholding commitments to creative workers—artists, makers, tradition bearers, educators, designers, and other content creators—during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.” The Arts Commission gave grants to 55% of the eligible applications submitted for this relief opportunity. Dicochea acknowledged many worthy organizations who applied and were not selected for funding. “This is strictly an outcome of the amount funds available to distribute through this particular relief program and is by no means a reflection of the quality of an organization’s programming or the depth of their need.”
After Gov. Doug Ducey’s latest executive order, the city of Peoria closed the Rio Vista Recreation and Peoria Community Center “to protect the health and safety of city employees and residents,” according to a press release. On June 29, Ducey issued Executive Order 2020-43, which prohibits large gatherings, ceases the issuance of new special event licenses and pauses the operations of bars, gyms, movie theaters, waterparks and tubing rentals for one month. “In accordance with this executive order and the health guidelines provided by the Arizona Department of Health Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on facial coverings, social distancing and personal hygiene to help slow the spread of COVID-19, the Rio Vista Recreation Center and Peoria Community Center will be closed effective immediately until July 27,” said the release. The social services provided through the Community Assistance Resource Center will continue to be accessed by appointment only. The existing hydration stations, virtual classes and home delivered meals and curbside meal pickups will continue at the Peoria
Community Center as well. Programs and services at city pools and libraries will continue in limited capacities. “Splash pads remain closed and swim lessons will continue at the Peoria and Sunrise Pools, with additional physical distancing and cleaning standards in place,” according to the release. At the Peoria libraries, online access to digital library books, audio books, streaming video and music is available to those with a Peoria library card. Sunrise Mountain Library will have limited, lobby-only hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday (closed Sunday). The Peoria Main Library will have limited hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Facial coverings and social distancing will be required with fewer than 10 people allowed in the library lobbies at a time. All materials will go through quarantined protocols for sanitation and curbside delivery and bookdrops will be available during operating hours. For information, visit peoriaaz. gov/library. For city of Peoria updates, visit peoriaaz.gov/covid19 or call the helpline at 623-773-7770.
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