CINCINNATI — Many arts organizations across Ohio have been struggling through the pandemic. Now some artists in the Cincinnati area are getting some help.

On Wednesday, Mayor John Cranley announced Cincinnati will receive $290 million from the American Rescue Plan.

Close to $11 million will go toward helping art organizations, nearly $6 million will go toward helping performing arts organizations during the pandemic, $1 million dollars will go toward helping art museums, and $1 million will go toward hiring people to help with art projects, such as a Black Lives Matter mural.

Cranley said he looks forward to the day when the arts community can begin getting back to normal.

“As we come out of this pandemic we got to come back together again and to see human expression, and in my opinion, art changed my life and I’m a big fan and hope to see performances soon,” he said.

Cranley isn’t the only one excited about things opening back up. Cincinnati Opera singer Christian Pursell, who has spent the pandemic doing virtual events, said he’s ecstatic about the future.

“There’s such a rich, rich culture here of the arts, so I’m really glad to see the city prioritize that and I’m just really happy that the artists are going to be able to do their work and paid for it too to make a living,” said Pursell.

The allocation of the funding will need to be approved by Cincinnati City Council. Money is expected to be granted to the art community within a month. ​