On August 12, CERF+ awarded 200 COVID-19 Relief Grants to materials-based craft and folk/traditional artists. The $1,000 grants are designed to help craft disciplined artists meet urgent food, medical, or housing insecurities.
A COVID-19 Grant Recipient expressed, “I am so very grateful and a bit in shock. Actually finding it hard to believe that it is real. I can breathe now. Thank you for making such a huge difference in my life!”
The continued need for support for artists is tremendous. In the first cycle of our COVID-19 Relief Grant program, we received 1,800+ applications from artists representing all 50 states and 3 U.S. territories. This demand from artists is unprecedented in CERF+’s 35-year history and this is the largest one-time emergency relief initiative that CERF+ has ever administered. To continue this work, CERF+ will open applications for a second cycle of the program on August 19, 2020.
“CERF+ sincerely thanks all of our supporters for your outreach and donations that made this program possible. We are grateful to be able to offer this next round of grants to continue reaching artists in need,” said Cornelia Carey, Executive Director of CERF+.
