South River Art Studios
South River Art Studios housed approximately 45 artists studios in South Atlanta, Georgia. In the early morning hours of November 12, a devastating fire broke out. Thankfully, no injuries or fatalities have been reported; however, an estimated 25-30 studios have been completely destroyed.
U.S. South
Dry and windy conditions affected a large swath of the United States from Texas to Virginia. Over 175 wildfires erupted across several parts of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia in early March. High winds coupled with especially dry vegetation contributed to the fires, which threatened homes and prompted several evacuations were ordered. A state of emergency was declared in South Carolina.
California:
Several fires, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, began burning in Los Angeles County in January. The fires have caused at least two dozen fatalities, destroyed over thousands of structures, and are threatened many neighborhoods. Multiple evacuation orders were issued, and Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency. The two largest fires, the Palisades Fire (affecting the Pacific Palisades area) and the Eaton Fire (affecting a broad swath of the San Gabriel Valley from La Cañada east to Monrovia), are the most destructive in Los Angeles history.
CERF+ is connecting with local partners on the ground to learn more about the needs of local artists and offer resources to craft artists who were affected.
If you are a craft artist or artisan affected by the fires, please visit our recovery resources and submit an application for our Emergency Relief program. For any questions about the application process, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. We’re here to assist you every step of the way.
Disaster Recovery Resources for Artists
In addition to our Emergency Relief grant, CERF+’s Studio Protector also has resources to support artists as they begin to assess and re-enter their damaged studios.
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH) provides confidential, multilingual crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S./territories experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, including COVID-19. Call or text the DDH at 1-800-985-5990, 24/7, which includes a “press 2” Spanish bilingual option, to reach a trained counselor 24/7, 365-days-a-year.
Please be safe, and let us know if we can do anything to help.
Finally, for those who are able to, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Your support directly helps craft artists in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters.
