ArtsEmerson and WERS Receive CARES Act Funding from Boston

ArtsEmerson and WERS 88.9 FM were two of 146 Boston organizations that were awarded $815,000 from CARES Act funding allocated to Boston.

ArtsEmerson received $10,000 and WERS received $5,000 from Boston’s Arts and Culture COVID-19 Fund. Both organizations applied for the grant.

WERS plans to use the grant to purchase USB microphones and upgraded computer hardware, which will enhance the station’s remote work capacity, said Operations Manager Howard Simpson.

“This will help us be better prepared for speaking events, such as last week’s Fierce Urgency Of Now Festival, while also having a back up should one of our computers fail for whatever reason,” Simpson said.

The $10,000 CARES Act grant will be added to ArtsEmerson’s funding from other sources, including individual corporations, government agencies, and foundations, to support programming and artist costs, such as the ’20-’21 Together Apart digital programming series, said Shannon Worthington, senior development officer for Emerson’s Office of the Arts and ArtsEmerson.

Boston established the fund earlier this summer to support small and mid-sized arts and culture nonprofits as they adapt their programs, spaces, and operating models as a result of COVID-19.

“Supporting the organizations that bring transformative arts programming to every neighborhood in our city is imperative during this unprecedented time,” said Boston Mayor Marty. Walsh. “These organizations have put a tremendous amount of effort into making sure Bostonians can still participate in the arts and express themselves creatively, and it’s important that we do what we can to ensure they remain a part of Boston’s arts community in the future.”