The Orange County Board of Supervisors on April 27 approved an allocation of $5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to support arts-related small businesses and non-profit organizations. The funding came as local arts organizations continue to struggle with economic losses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey by Arts Orange County (Arts OC), the official arts council for the County of Orange, revealed the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the local arts community. The pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home-orders resulted in devastating deficits upward of $121 million, the survey found. After more than a year of job losses, cancelled performances and reduced philanthropic support, many organizations hang in the balance. In April 2020, only a short time after business closures began, Arts OC conducted its first COVID-19-related economic impact survey which revealed the local arts community was already at losses of more than $16 million. The …