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Arts Relief Resource Guide
First, check with your state arts commission, accessible through the Arts.gov website.
Also check with your state's unemployment office since there are funds for those in the freelance/gig business who are now sidelined. Learn more on the Credit.org website.
- Artist Relief - US
- Artist Care Fund - US
- COVID-19 Mill Valley Business Fund
- ARTIST RELIEF PROJECT - US
- KQED Relief Fund List
- The San Francisco Arts & Artists Relief Fund
- Freelancers Relief Fund - US
- Pillars Rapid Response Fund - US
- Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund
- The Safety Net Fund - San Francisco, CA
- Untitled Art Emergency Fund - San Francisco, CA
- What the Fund - Worldwide
- American Poets Fund – Emergency Funds - US
- Authors League Fund - US
- The Pen Writers Fund - US
- SFWA Emergency Medical Fund
- Carnegie Fund for Authors - US
- The Haven Foundation - US
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants - US
- Creative Capital – Artist Resources During the Covid-19 Outbreak
- Anonymous Was a Woman Emergency Relief Grant
- The Creator Fund From ConvertKit
- Covid-19 Freelance Artist Resources
- Kickstarter for Artists in the Covid-19 Crisis
- Covid-19 Resources by Bomb Magazine
- Punks with Lunch
- The Luminary
- While at Home
- American Alliance of Museums
- Art Became the Oxygen From the US Department of Agriculture
- Americans for the Arts
- California Relief Fund for Artists & Cultural Practitioners
Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists. Applicants must be practicing artists able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to their work, careers, and a public audience, experiencing dire financial emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Must be 21 years of age or older and able to receive taxable income in the U.S. (e.g. citizen, green card holder, and/or permanent resident who can provide a W9 and SSN or ITIN). Must be residing and working in the U.S. for the last two years, and not a full-time employee, board member, director, officer, or immediate family member of any of the coalition partners.
View the Artist Relief website.
In partnership with an anonymous donor and author, Sandra Fernandez Rhoads, Art House Dallas is launching an Artist Care Fund. The fund is in tandem of the release of Sandra's upcoming novel "Mortal Sight." The Artist Care Fund is available to artists who are struggling with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 crisis. Care funds will be made in the form checks and artists may request up to $500 but must only ask for "greatest need funds." Applications missing required elements will not be considered. Approximately 10 artists will be selected and decisions will be based on the best fit and greatest need. Applications are due by Sunday, April 12th. Artists will be notified after Wednesday, April 15th. Applicants must be living in the United States or U.S. territories and have a U.S. Tax ID Number.
View the Artist Care Fund website.
All "brick and mortar" businesses in the 94941 zip code of Mill Valley are invited to apply which meet the following qualifications:
- You are a retail, restaurant, service, or nonprofit that customers can visit.
- You have fewer than 10 employees or independent contractors (FTE) at this location as of January 2020.
- You have not already established a GoFundMe or independent fundraising effort.
The MV Chamber will allocate one grant of $1,000 per business, as funds are raised, on a first-come, first-served basis. We are accepting electronic applications only. Your business may be open or closed during the COVID-19 crisis. Regardless, we know you are hurting, and we trust that you know how to allocate these funds. At this time, we are not accepting applications from business offices (e.g. real estate, financial services that aren't banks, etc.). We hope to expand our reach as the community responds. They are also accepting donations online.
Learn more about the Mill Valley Thrive Fund online.
Any artist in any discipline who has been impacted by COVID19-related cancellations and closures may apply for assistance. Stipends and support will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the only limitation being how much money we are able to raise. The only requirements are:
- You demonstrate you're an artist by sharing your resume and website, where applicable.
- You share this fundraiser with your own networks and provide a screenshot of that activity.
View the Artist Relief Project website.
A list with descriptions of funds for all creatives: With the passing of AB 5, California moved to extend employee protections to freelancers this year, but many creative professionals still work for themselves and don't have typical salaried-worker safety nets like extended sick leave. Some self-employed people will not qualify for unemployment insurance, particularly artists who rely on informal, direct cash payments or practice without a business license. With those challenges in mind, we've rounded up a list of mutual aid funds that distribute emergency grants to artists, creative professionals, and freelancers facing financial hardships. Most of these funds also accept donations-many of which are tax deductible-from those among us who are more fortunate and looking to help. We also encourage you to donate directly to the low-income artists, service workers, and freelancers in your community via PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo.
View the KQED website.
San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) and Grants for the Arts (GFTA) have launched an emergency relief fund-the San Francisco Arts and Artists Relief Fund-to mitigate COVID-19 related financial losses that artists and small to mid-size arts and culture organizations have suffered. The Fund will prioritize the financial needs of individuals and organizations who are of and serving cultural populations that have been and remain financially vulnerable-black, indigenous, immigrant, trans, and people with disabilities. Individuals (artists, teaching artists, cultural producers, etc.) may apply for up to $2,000 and use the award however they see fit.
View the Center for Cultural Innovation website.
Freelancers Relief Fund will offer financial assistance of up to $1,000 per freelance household to cover lost income and essential expenses not covered by government relief programs.
View the Freelancers Union website.
A rapid response fund to support the personal expenses of Muslim artists and activists whose livelihoods are being negatively impacted by this current moment. We will be making $500 grants to individuals through a short application process. These grants are for individual artists and activists who identify as Muslim and who are in the United States.
View the Pillars Fund website.
This fund is for queer writers of color only, not organizations or nonprofits, who are in need of financial assistance right now. The total goal is $100,000 to help at least 100 writers. At this time, we are able to give the minimum of $100 and a maximum of $500.
The Safety Net Fund is a non-profit designed to help support artists in the Bay Area during the COVID-19 crisis. We prioritize artists that typically make their living offline at events and retail establishments that have been cancelled or closed due to coronavirus. This includes performing artists, musicians, visual artists, event producers, and other types of creators. The maximum grant is $500 per person per month, and the number of grants per month is dependent upon the funds raised.
View the Safety Net Fund website.
Funds of $250 per member of house hold will be distributed by the Art team in an effort to support the security and protection of artists who, in "normal times," hold part-time or contract work to prioritize their art practice. Funds support basic human needs such as mental health counseling, healthcare reimbursements not covered by insurance, childcare, food, or rent, for example. Artist must have graduated from a Bay Area institution or have lived in the Bay Area for two years as a working artist.
View the Untitled Art (PDF) document.
The grant program is open to any creator, anywhere in the world, who is being demonstrably impacted by the COVID-19 situation. Deadline April 14, 2020. Grant recipients will be chosen by a board of fellow creators. Patreon is kicking off the grant by donating $10 thousand and is accepting contributions from anyone who can help.
The Academy of American Poets
584 Broadway
Suite 1208
New York, NY 10012
Assists poets of demonstrated ability who are in a state of urgent financial need. Grants cannot be used to promote or otherwise enhance literary talent or reputation, and applications are not accepted.
Since 1917, the Authors League Fund has helped professional authors, journalists, poets, and dramatists who find themselves in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune.
View the Authors League Fund website.
PEN America will distribute grants of $500 to $1,000 based on applications that demonstrate an inability to meet an acute financial need, especially one resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. We have developed a new streamlined process for the duration of this crisis, and expect to be able to review and respond to applications within 10 days. To be eligible, applicants must be based in the United States, be a professional writer, and be able to demonstrate that this one-time grant will be meaningful in helping them to address an emergency situation. The fund is limited, and not every application can be supported.
View the PEN America website.
The Emergency Medical Fund (EMF) was established to help genre writers pay medical expenses not otherwise covered by insurance. The fund is meant to cover only short-term (i.e. emergency situations that interfere with the ability to write). Requests must specify the recipient, a description of the circumstances, and the amount of support needed.
View the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America website.
The mission of Carnegie Fund for Authors is to award grants to published authors who are in need of emergency financial assistance as a result of illness or injury to self, spouse, or dependent child, or who has had some other misfortune that has placed the applicant in pressing and substantial pecuniary need. We accept applications from any American author who has written at least one book of reasonable length that has been published commercially and received reader acceptance.
View the Carnegie Fund for Authors website.
The mission of The Haven Foundation is to offer interim financial assistance to freelance professionals in the arts who face crises. The Foundation's reach is the United States, and its awards are granted with a view to helping individuals overcome temporary adversity and return to full-time work.
View the Haven Foundation website.
Emergency Grants is the only active, multi-disciplinary program that offers immediate assistance of this kind to artists living and working anywhere in the United States, for projects occurring in the U.S. and abroad. Each month FCA receives an average of 95 Emergency Grant applications and makes approximately 12 to 15 grants. Grants range in amount from $500 to $2,500, and the average grant is now $1,600.
View the Foundation for Contemporary Arts website.
Creative Capital says, "In times of crisis, artists are often among those most affected. In addition to health concerns, this is a challenging moment for many in our community as we deal with cancelled income and trying to make plans during uncertain times. Creative Capital has always been anchored by a rich spirit of community and mutual generosity, and we believe that continuing communication and exchange are crucial for all of us. As COVID-19 continues to spread across the United States, we have created a list of resources for artists working in all disciplines, as well as arts philanthropists, and arts professionals. Also check out our list of arts events that have moved online due to the COVID-19 outbreak."
View the Creative Capital website.
This program will distribute $250,000 in grants, up to $2,500 apiece, to women-identifying visual artists over the age of 40 who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Anonymous Was A Woman (AWAW) has partnered with the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) to launch an emergency relief grant program to support artists impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The program will distribute $250,000 in unrestricted grants, up to $2,500 apiece, to artists who have experienced financial hardship from loss of income or opportunity as a direct result of the crisis. As with AWAW's annual award, the program is open to women-identifying visual artists over the age of 40 in the United States and territories, and aims to address the unique challenges faced by artists in middle age or older, particularly at this critical time.
ConvertKit will distribute $50,000. It describes itself as "a mission-driven company made up of creators ourselves, our heart is with the creator community. Thanks to being bootstrapped, remote, and profitable, we're in a position to provide financial support. This is deeply connected to our mission to help creators earn a living. In that vein, we'll be providing financial assistance to creators who are experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19 until the fund runs out. You must be an active creator, be experiencing financial hardship due to circumstances related to COVID-19 and in need of one of the four categories we are supporting - medical, groceries, childcare, rent or mortgage.
View the Creator Fund website.
The Freelance Artist Resource Producing Collective is an iterative, responsive project composed of four freelance producers and culture makers: Nicole Brewer, Hannah Fenlon, Ann Marie Lonsdale, and Abigail Vega. Together, they manage the Covid-19 Freelance Artists Resource WordPress Site and produce a series of webinars and other virtual gathering opportunities to provide resources to and raise the collective knowledge body of freelance, unaffiliated artists in the United States. The Freelance Artist Resource Producing Collective is a short term intervention that gathers and amplifies efforts and ideas that secure freelance artists' livelihood and centers their humanity in the immediate present, while preparing the U.S. arts and culture field for a radically equal, inclusive, anti-racist, and progressive future.
View the Freelance Artist Resource website.
Kickstarter says, "While we continue to encourage and help artists with live campaigns on our site, we acknowledge that the coronavirus outbreak is a crisis, and our community needs help beyond what we can offer on our platform. Because of this, we've built a live archive of resources for artists, from best practices for remote work to emergency grants and guidelines for nonprofits and businesses. We'll keep adding to the list on Mondays for the immediate future-so feel free to write into art@kickstarter.com with more."
View the Kickstarter website.
BOMB says, "We believe the artist's voice is vital, particularly in these uncertain times. BOMB will continue to publish content daily, as well as resources and virtual outreach for artists in order to amplify and support the voices in our community."
View the BOMB Magazine website.
West Oakland Punks with Lunch is a guerilla not-for-profit Harm reduction outreach organization providing food and other necessities to people experiencing homelessness.
View the Punks with Lunch website.
For artists and arts organizers in the St. Louis region: The Luminary, in partnership with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, is offering immediate artist emergency grants totaling $60,000 for artists and arts organizers in the St. Louis region. Building from our Futures Fund regranting initiative, we are diverting funds for 2020 to support the direct needs of those in our community most impacted by COVID-19.
View the Luminary website.
This collection of funds and grants aims to only include those that are actively dispersing funds and soliciting applicants.
View the While at Home website.
Read through the Finding Remote Internships During Covid-19 page on the American Alliance of Museums website.
In this time of great change, the Museum Studies Network (of AAM) and NYCMER (New York City Museum Educators Roundtable) have produced this survey and linked crowdsourced spreadsheet to share remote internship opportunities for emerging museum professionals looking to pursue Summer 2020 internships in museums, libraries, archives, historic sites, zoos, aquaria, and organizations that operate in service to these institutions.
Art Became The Oxygen incorporates first-person experience and guidance from respected voices deeply engaged in artistic response from Katrina to Ferguson, from Sandy to Standing Rock. It includes hundreds of links to powerful arts projects, official emergency resources, and detailed accounts for those who want to go even deeper. Read the guide online.
Read the Art Became the Oxygen: An Artistic Response Guide on the US Department of Arts and Culture website.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource and Response Center with Up-to-date news and resources for the arts and culture field. Americans for the Arts continues to closely monitor recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Federal and D.C. governments as developments evolve concerning the coronavirus. Our organization cares about the health and safety of our members, stakeholders, staff, and board in communities across the country, and we understand that health, work, and travel require personal decisions that individuals must make for themselves.
View the Americans for the Arts website.
The California Relief Fund for Artists and Cultural Practitioners is a partnership between the California Arts Council (CAC) and the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI). The California Relief Fund for Artists and Cultural Practitioners is distributing $920,000 from the CACs general fund in the form of $1,000 grants to help artists and cultural practitioners (including fine and performing artists, teaching artists, culture bearers, and maker-based sole or collective creative entrepreneurs) who comprise the various and diverse cultural communities of the state of California.
Credit to the Hope Clark FundsforWriters.com and The Art Report - A Monthly Summary and Forecast of West Coast Art Conditions, and various other sources.