Montpelier, VT (September 27, 2019) – Today CERF+ — the Artists Safety Net announced that it is one of four organizations that will receive a grant from the Flamboyan Arts Fund to support the organization’s ongoing emergency relief and preparedness work in Puerto Rico. The Flamboyan Arts Fund was created through a joint partnership between the Flamboyan Foundation, Lin-Manuel Miranda, his family, and the Hamilton musical.
Since its founding in the summer of 2018, the Flamboyan Arts Fund has announced funding commitments totaling $4 million to 12 arts organizations in Puerto Rico that are working to preserve and promote the arts island-wide. In addition to CERF+, this new multi-year commitment of $720,000 from Flamboyan will go to these organizations: Beta-Local, the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico – MACPR, and the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC).
CERF+ will use the grant to provide emergency assistance of up to $3,000 to artists and artisans working in craft disciplines in Puerto Rico who meet CERF+’s eligibility requirements and who have experienced career-threatening emergencies, including those affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The grant will also provide CERF+ Get Ready Grants of up to $500 to artists and artisans working in craft disciplines to conduct activities that safeguard their studios, protect their careers, and prepare for emergencies.
Since Hurricane Maria struck in 2017, CERF+ has helped more than 72 artists in Puerto Rico and provided over $300,000 in emergency assistance and donated equipment and materials. CERF+’s recovery work in Puerto Rico has been the largest disaster response effort in the organization’s 34-year history. CERF+ is committed to helping artists recover from disasters in the immediate aftermath and over the long term.
“CERF+ is honored to receive this generous grant of $100,000 from the Flamboyan Arts Fund to support the recovery and resiliency of artists and artisans working in craft disciplines of Puerto Rico,” said CERF+ executive director, Cornelia Carey. “This past year, the Flamboyan Arts Fund has provided critical support to artists and arts institutions throughout the Island. We share the Foundation’s belief that the arts and artists are fundamental to the recovery and well-being of Puerto Rico.”
CERF+ will be hosting an information session about their emergency relief and Get Ready grants for Puerto Rican artists working in craft disciplines and artisans on Saturday, September 28 at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico – MACPR in San Juan from 10am to 11am.