Our thoughts are with the artist community, many of whom are dealing with canceled shows, exhibitions, and conferences. It’s challenging to live with so many unknowns and lost income.
More than ever, CERF+ emergency financial relief assistance is going to be a critical safety-net for those artists who contract the virus. In order to address the anticipated increase in requests for assistance, we established the COVID-19 Response Fund. This fund is essential to our rapid and effective response to those artists who are suffering severe health impacts from the coronavirus, ensuring that CERF+ has the funds necessary to respond to this unprecedented crisis. Please donate today to the CERF+ COVID-19 Response Fund.
CERF+ is committed to providing artists with the information they need to sustain their careers. As such, we will continue sharing resources and opportunities over the weeks ahead related to navigating these times. Below you will find a list of resources and steps you can take to protect yourself, your business, and your career. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or information to share.
COVID-19 Specific and Other Emergency Funds
CERF+’s list of standing emergency relief funds for artists of all disciplines can be found here. In addition, here other sources of emergency relief funding:
This list from Artists Thrive contains info about over 120 funds, as well as other resources.
Italicized listings indicate funds that are temporarily closed
- 4Culture Relief Fund – One-time grants of up to $2,000 for King County, WA cultural workers who have faced financial hardship due to COVID-19 or to fund an idea that will support other King County residents
- Alternate Roots Solidarity Fund – Grants of $100 – $2,500 for Alternate Roots members experiencing need due to COVID-19 and other emergencies.
- Artist Relief – A national fund for artists of all disciplines providing $5,000 grants to facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19
- Artist Relief Tree – $250 grants for artists of all disciplines – temporarily closed with a sign-up to notified when funds become available
- Artists Benevolence Fund – $1,000 maximum grant for artists in Laguna Beach unable to work due to a catastrophic event
- Artists Now – $500 Grants for artists who live in the Bay Area, who have been financially impacted by COVID-19, who are POC, Women, or identify as LGBTQIA+.
- Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund – $200 microgrants for BIPOC artists and arts administrators impacted by COVID-19
- Arts Council Napa Valley Emergency Artist & Education Fund – Available to help artists in any discipline with financial losses due to the pandemic
- ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes – $250 for creative individuals and community groups in Chemung, Schuyler, and Steuben counties, NY who have experienced lost income
- Bay Area Emergency Funds for Freelancers, Creatives Losing Income During Coronavirus
- The Bay Area Safety Net Fund
- Charlottesville Emergency Relief Fund for Artists – $300 grants for artists in the Charlottesville, VA area including the city of Charlottesville or the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, or Nelson
- Chippewa Valley Artist Relief Fund – Grants up to $500 for artists and creatives in Chippewa Valley, WI who have experienced lost revenue due to COVID-19.
- Greater Columbus Arts Council Emergency Relief Fund for Artists – Up to $1,000 for artists of all disciplines in Franklin County, OH
- Coronavirus 2020 Artist Relief Funds – Crowdsourced spreadsheet of relief funds around the United States that can be sorted by media, region, and more
- Craft Futures Fund – One-time, unrestricted grants of $5,000 will be disbursed by the Center for Craft to craft-based education projects that seed resilience, foster community, and amplify impact
- Creative Capital’s compilation of resources and relief funds
- Durham Artist Relief Fund – For Durham, NC artists and arts presenters in Durham who have been financially impacted by cancellations due to COVID-19
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts Fund for Experimental Artists
- Freelance Artists Funding List
- Hillsborough County Emergency Funds for Artists – $500 one-time grants for artists in most disciplines living in Hillsborough County, FL
- The Illuminations Grant for Black Trans Women Visual Artists – A $10,000 grant for Black trans women to recognize their artistic contributions
- Indy Arts & Culture COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund – For individuals working in the arts sector in Indianapolis and impacted by the current public health crisis.
- leveler.info – A mobile platform to match people with needs to people with funds
- Macon Arts Alliance Creative Response Artist Relief Fund provides grants from $500 to $1,000 to artists and creative professionals in Bibb, Baldwin, Houston, Crawford, Jones, Peach, Monroe, and Twiggs County, GA facing financial emergencies due to COVID-19.
- Max’s Kansas City Project – Grants for $500 – $1,000 for New York state artists who demonstrate financial need for medical aid, legal aid, or housing.
- Museum of Contemporary Art of Puerto Rico Emergency Fund
- NC Artist Relief Fund – Grants of $200 for North Carolina artists of all media who have been financially impacted by gig cancellations due to COVID-19. They also have a list or regional North Carolina funds here. – Application paused, waitlist available
- New York Foundation for the Arts COVID-19 Emergency Resource List – includes lists of relief funds for artists in various media and in various regions
- Red Backpack Fund – Grants of $5,000 for female entrepreneurs to alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
- Rhode Island Artist Relief Fund – Grants up to $1,000 for Rhode Island artists who have lost income due to COVID-19
- Sierra Arts Foundation – $500 grants for artists in a wide variety of disciplines who live in Washoe County, NV
- Spokane Artists & Creatives Fund – Support for individual creatives in the Spokane, WA area who rely on income from gigs, performances, teaching opportunities, workshops and classes to cover basic expenses like housing, food, and medical care
- Tarrant County Creative Industry Relief Fund – $300 grants for Tarrant County, TX musicians, filmmakers and artists – waitlist available
- Texas Folk & Traditional Arts Relief Fund – $500 one-time grants for Texas folk & traditional artists who are experiencing financial need due to COVID-19
Resource Lists and Information
- Artists Thrive Resource List – Includes funding, information, and other resource compilations for artists and arts organizations of all media
- CERF+’s Craft + Maker Community Facebook Group is a mutual aid page for sharing tips and information to support each other during the COVID-19 outbreak
- COVID-19 Emergency Funding and Artist Resources from I Care If You Listen
- COVID-19 Resources for Teaching Artists from the Teaching Artists Guild
- Creativity amid the coronavirus: how local artists are enduring the crisis from Daily Pilot
- How to Plan a Virtual Event on Vimeo
- Interdisciplinary Remote & Remote-Friendly Employers
- Northwest Folklife – financial assistance, mutual aid and advocacy, and informational support
- Resources for Remote Work
- Seattle Area Resource List
- Staying Safe and Healthy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Survival tips for freelancers
- What Artists Need to Know About US Taxes
Webinars
- Office Hours with Nina NOW EXTENDED 11 AM – 12PM EST Monday through Friday through July 29th
- American Craft Forum Series Recordings
- Innovation in the Face of Adversity Part 3: Education Disruptions and Opportunities from the American Craft Council in partnership with SNAG, Springboard for the Arts, and CERF+ (recording)
- Creative Capital’s Suite of Coping With Covid Workshops covering livestreaming for artists, financial implications, time management, and wellness and self-care (recordings)
- Contracts and the Coronavirus from Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
- Negotiating the Unexpected from the Center for Cultural Innovation (recording)
- Rallying Together: Resources to Support Artists During Covid-19 from Artwork Archive in collaboration with CERF+ (recording)
- Artists In a Time of Global Pandemic (ASL & Captioned) from Howlround (recording)
- Financial Strategies for Freelance Artists in a Time of Crisis (ASL & Captioned) from Howlround (recording)
- Ways of Gathering in the Age of COVID-19 from Howlround (recording)
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?.
- Wash hands frequently
- Wear cloth face coverings in public settings
- Maintain a minimum six foot distance from others when you do need to be out.
- Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cover your mouth and nose into your bent elbow if you cough or sneeze.
- Clean surfaces frequently and regularly.
- Stay informed of the latest developments. and follow advice from your health care provider.
- UCLA has published very helpful advice for protecting your physical and mental health.
- Watch the “Artists In a Time of Global Pandemic” webinar to learn about additional resources.
- Look into a Small Business Administration low interest disaster loan
What Can Organizations Do?
- Are you providing funding or thinking about starting a fund? Review NCAPER’s Funding Principles for COVID-19 and Springboard for the Arts’ So You Want To Start An Emergency Relief Fund
- Review the CDC’s Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019.
- Familiarize yourself with the CDC’s Preparing Communities for Potential Spread of Coronavirus guidelines and recommendations.
- Stay in touch with state and local health agencies for guidance specific to your location
- Be aware of the World Health Organization’s recommendations for planning mass gatherings.
- Watch the Event Planning Alliance’s “Preparing Your Organization for the Corona Virus Disease Outbreak” webinar here.
- Review the Americans for the Arts list of ways the arts and culture community can prepare here.
- The Nonprofit Finance Fund has a list of steps nonprofits should take right now.
Additional Resources:
- How to Protect Your Finances During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- World Health Organization
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
- Johns Hopkins video channel featuring recordings with experts offering concrete information about COVID-19
- ArtsReady Alert: Preparing for Potential Impact of the Coronavirus
- 211’s List of Resources
- The Studio Potter is offering free memberships to faculty who are transitioning their curriculum to online learning.
- The Society of American Silversmiths is offering free memberships to anyone experiencing financial or health problems.
