INDIANA WRITERS CENTER RECEIVES GRANTS TOTALING OVER $26,000 FROM REGIONAL AND NATIONAL FOUNDATIONS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rachel Sahaidachny, Indiana Writers Center, Executive Director
317-255-0710; mail@indianawriters.org
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (JUNE 29, 2020) – Indiana Writers Center is pleased to announce it has received five separate grants totaling $26,504 from four community foundations: Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, Indiana Arts Commission (annual grant and emergency relief fund), Arts Council of Indianapolis, and Amazon Literary Partnership.
“Entering a new fiscal year, after a brutal spring, these funds are monumental in sustaining the Indiana Writers Center’s operational integrity, supporting our programming,” said Rachel Sahaidachny, Executive Director. “These monies are crucial to our upcoming year.”
The largest grant of $10,000 was awarded by the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation. Per the award letter, the Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation “recognizes that this COVID – 19 moment is a time of change and uncertainty for organizations, and it is our intent that this grant for operating purposes be used to strengthen the present mission of the recipient organization.”
The Indiana Arts Commission awarded two grants, including their annual grant award of $6,054 and an Emergency Relief Fund of $3,000. This FY21 Arts Organization Support is made possible by “the appropriated funds from the Indiana State Legislature, in conjunction with federally appropriated funds from the National Endowment of the Arts,” per the award letter.
The remaining local award of $2,000 was distributed by the Arts Council of Indianapolis. “Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the City of Indianapolis and Arts Council have partnered to accelerate the approval and distribution of funds to 70 arts and cultural organizations participating in the Annual Grants Program.” The Arts Council Board expedited funding 60 days earlier than scheduled.
The final award of $5,000 came from Amazon Literary Partnership. Relief donations from the Artist Relief and PEN America Writer’s Emergency Fund allowed the Amazon Literary Partnership to expand support with more than $1 million in funding to 66 nonprofits dedicated to serving writers. Indiana Writers Center is honored to be one of the selected organizations.
“We are so lucky to have an active board and especially our in-house team, Sarah Ginter and Rachel Sahaidachny, who have tirelessly applied for grant after grant,” said Celeste Williams, Board President. “With these grants, the Indiana Writers Center can continue to offer our regular programming, which we’ve moved to online, including The Indiana Playwright Circle, Summer Learning Programs, Mentor Programs, library partnerships, and instructive classes. Many of our programs allow Indiana residents to process the cumulative and universal trauma we all face with Covid-19.”
The Indiana Writers Center celebrates its 40th year in 2020. They embody their mission by offering classes and programs taught by published authors, providing support for Indiana writers working at all levels, and providing enrichment opportunities to a diverse often underserved audiences in the community. You can learn more about Indiana Writers Center at indianawriters.org.