RIDGWAY — The Elk County Council on the Arts has received funding to help working artists recover from the pandemic.

The funds, through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), are to ensure the stability and recovery of the Commonwealth’s arts and culture sector from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The region in which these funds will be distributed encompasses Cameron, Elk, Forest, McKean and Potter counties. The ARPA Pennsylvania Arts and Culture Recovery (PACR) Grant program for working artists awards a one-time $3,000 grant to artists and creative entrepreneurs who derived most of their pre-pandemic income from their artistic practice and experienced a significant pandemic-related disruption to their income.

The arts are an integral component to the social, civic, economic wellbeing and vitality of our region and Commonwealth. The arts and culture sector has experienced significant economic setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic. Across the spectrum of artistic and creative endeavors, restrictions on gatherings, cancellation of events, changes in consumer behavior have truly taken a toll on the creative sector in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The grant program is open now through May 2026 or until funds are depleted. Funding is first come first serve. For more information, go to the website at eccota.com or reach out to ECCOTA’s Creative Funding Coordinator, Kylee Mader at kylee@eccota.com