© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Help Is on the Way For Struggling Performing Arts Organizations and Theaters

Ohio Theatre, June 2020
Jo Ingles
/
Statehouse News Bureau
The Ohio Theatre in Columbus, pictured in June 2020, is among the performing arts venues that might benefit from aid from the state that's meant to help organizations that have lost money because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Columbus Museum of Art has announced it was laying off 39 employees and slashing its budget because of money lost during coronavirus. It’s the latest example of an arts organization that has suffered because of COVID-19. But there might be some help coming soon from the state for struggling performing arts theaters.

Gov. Mike DeWine says he realizes performing arts are hurting right now, and he says the state wants to help theaters that have lost money because of coronavirus closures and restrictions.

“We can’t announce this yet, but in the money we are setting aside, we hope to have money for theaters, performing arts theaters, in the state of Ohio. Look, it’s not going to put them back where they were or where they would have been, but we will have money in there for that," DeWine said.

He says he doesn’t think movie theaters will qualify for those funds but adds they might qualify for some other funding that’s being set aside to help Ohio businesses hurt by coronavirus. There's about $900 million worth of federal coronavirus aid that could be put toward helping the arts and small businesses. 
Copyright 2020 The Statehouse News Bureau. To see more, visit The Statehouse News Bureau.

Jo Ingles
Jo Ingles is a professional journalist who covers politics and Ohio government for the Ohio Public Radio and Television for the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau. She reports on issues of importance to Ohioans including education, legislation, politics, and life and death issues such as capital punishment.