A City of Tulsa grant program for artists that was about to start taking applications will likely become a loan program temporarily to help organizations affected by COVID-19.
The Vision Arts program has $150,000 available now City Councilor Phil Lakin said could be distributed as zero-interest loans to existing organizations. The funding was approved by voters in a sales tax package for annual grants to art projects that would encourage economic development in the city.
"Under the circumstances of this pandemic and shelter in place, a lot of the revenue that would have been coming in for arts organizations of all sizes has completely dried up, as have the venue for those revenue-producing activities," Lakin said.
The loan program would run through the end of the year, and the city arts commission would review and approve applications.
If the money is given as loans, Lakin said it will eventually come back so the city can still offer Vision Arts grants over 15 years as planned.
"We may not have arts organizations to stimulate our economy if we don’t support those arts organizations right now," Lakin said.
Between current and next fiscal year funding, a total of $300,000 in loans would be available in 2020. Councilors will vote on the change to the Vision Arts program this week.
