EMERGENCY FUNDS FOR ARTISTS
In our efforts to research emergency funding options for our island arts center, we have gathered information on sources of funding for individual artists who are experiencing loss of work and financial hardship during this difficult crisis. Everyone in our community is impacted in immeasurable ways, and at times like these we must all come together and support one another. This information was gathered with the help of our friends at Artists Trust and 4Culture. If you are an artist, we hope this information may be of use for you. We will continue to post updates and add to this list:
RESOURCES:
Amazon.com is offering 2021 Amazon Artist in Residence: Call for Artists. Deadline is October 16th. Amazon’s Artist in Residence program returns with the fourth annual call for artists. Selected artists will work at one of two spaces on the Seattle/Bellevue Campus. The Seattle Studio offers 400 square feet and the Bellevue studio offers 800 square feet. The location of the residency will be determined by the scale of the proposed project. There is a total of five residencies available in ten-week increments, with the first residency starting as early as March 29, 2021.
Seattle and King County Gov’t www.seattle.gov/mayor/covid-19 & handbook.kingcountycreative.com These two sites have a ton of links, including some relevant to those outside Seattle & King County. For businesses, artists, employees, for food support, rent issues, internet access, health access, home education info and much more. This spreadsheet lists opportunities by artist discipline, to help weed through them all: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pK-4LuZOkvzIr95XeGYPW6KWNfCXzms7t8QuqVT3cq4/htmlview
Cultural Relief Fund: Individuals (4Culture) https://www.4culture.org/grants/covid-19-individuals/ One-time grants of up to $2,000 are available for emergencies related to the COVID-19 virus and to support the creative responses cultural workers offer in times of crisis. The first round of funding will be available through May 15. Apply at any time within that time frame. $1 million available: www.4culture.org/grants-artist-calls/cultural-relief-fund and more resources at www.4culture.org/covid-19-response Also a handbook full of info: handbook.kingcountycreative.com
Seattle Artists Relief Fund https://www.gofundme.com/f/for-artists This fund is aimed at helping those in the greater Seattle arts community who have been financially impacted by cancellations due to COVID-19. Depending on funding levels and amount of requests, priority may be given to artists from communities that have been historically and systemically economically disadvantaged in the Seattle Area: BIPOC artists, transgender & nonbinary artists, and disabled artists - but we will try to help as many artists with need in Seattle as we can as long as we have funds and are not currently turning away any Seattle Area artists who meet the simple criteria (living in the Seattle area, have gig/event/work cancellation in the arts, have fully completed the application). We will basically keep going until we run out of money or this crisis ends - whichever comes sooner.
COVID-19 Artist Relief Fund (Artist Trust) https://artisttrust.submittable.com/submit The COVID-19 Artist Trust Relief Fund provides rapid response grants supporting critical needs of artists whose livelihoods have been impacted by COVID-19. COVID-19 Mutual Aid Fund for LGBTQI+ BIPOC Folks (GoFundMe Campaign) https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid19-relief-fund-for-lgbtqi-bipoc-folks “We are prioritizing LGBTQI+, non-binary, gender fluid, and gender non-conforming people of color because we often have less ties to familial support networks, we have historically been simultaneously overlooked and surveilled by welfare state systems, our needs have been surplus to mainstream political formations, and we tend to work in the gig economy.” – Amita Swadhin
Artist Relief Project – Financial Support for Artists Impacted by Covid-19 Crisis https://www.facebook.com/donate/142348897111761/2901820116523154/ Artists impacted by the cancellations and closures of events need access to immediate short-term relief for basic needs and necessities. Half of the proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to provide artists on a first- come, first-serve basis with a one-time, no-questions-asked stipend of $200. Any artist in any discipline who applies will receive the stipend, with the only limitation being how much money we can raise.
Seattle Music Teachers Fund (GoFundMe Campaign) https://www.gofundme.com/f/seattle-music-teachers-fund “I am raising funds for musicians living and working in the Seattle area who have lost income due to the Coronavirus. Many of these folks are friends and colleagues of mine and I am hoping to help. This fund is meant to help with income lost due to cancelled lessons and other non-performance music work. The funds raised will be distributed as gifts of $250. A small steering committee has been assembled to help with the application process. If you are a musician living and working in Seattle, the odds are you make 30%-50% of your income teaching lessons. As our state grapples with cancellations and lost work from the Covid-19 Coronavirus, these workers will be hit especially hard. Often the length of our shifts fall short of state requirements for state income programs like disability or worker’s compensation.” – Nate Omdal
Dramatist Guild’s Emergency Grants https://dgf.org/programs/grants/grants-for-writers/ It is vital to support writers in times of need so that they can get back to doing what they do best. DGF provides emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and bookwriters in dire need of funds due to severe hardship or unexpected illness.
The Actors Fund www.actorsfund.org The Actors Fund assists those working in theater, film, television, radio, music, dance, opera and circus. Individual artists with at least five years of industry paid employment with earnings of at least $6,500 for three out of the last five years OR a minimum of 20 years of industry paid employment with a minimum of 10 years of earnings of at least $5000. Rauschenberg Emergency Grants (New York Foundation for the Arts) https://apply.nyfa.org/submit/0696520d-f013-454d-8846-8da806d3920a/rauschenberg-emergency-grants Visual and media artists and choreographers who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the United States, District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. Covid-19 Relief Fund (Foundation for Contemporary Arts) https://foundationforcontemporaryarts.submittable.com/submit/b9feb8b2-3b40-4a12-bee3- b0e71294d17f/covid-19-relief-fund- application?fbclid=IwAR1dSRhVdsvYygAiQxOEeW2tJEu6MvC64viFazrzod2r4hsGp0fnb5qoO3s “In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the artist community, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts is creating a temporary fund to meet the needs of experimental artists who have been impacted by the economic fallout from postponed or canceled performances and exhibitions. If you are unsure about whether your work is experimental, you can see other artists we have supported on our Instagram and our website. For as long as our Board of Directors determines it is necessary and prudent to do so, the Foundation will disburse $1,000 grants to artists who have had performances or exhibitions canceled or postponed because of the COVID-19 virus.”
COVID-19 Fund @ Sweet Relief (Sweet Relief Musicians Fund) https://www.sweetrelief.org/request-assistance.html “Sweet Relief Musicians Fund” provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. In other words, Healing Musicians in Need. We all have received so much out of music, it's time to give a little back! Sweet Relief is here to provide immediate assistance and we have created this DONOR- DIRECTED FUND with a limited amount of funds available to be used specifically for musicians and music industry workers affected by the Coronavirus. Funds raised will go towards medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food and other vital living expenses to those impacted due to sickness or loss of work.”
Ijeoma Oluo's Artist Relief Fund She was out there first and is still rolling - donate or apply for assistance (it's at over $250,000 and giving the money out as fast as they can): www.gofundme.com/f/for-artists
Seattle Foundation They have a fund you can donate to that is supporting lots of other groups who are doing the work and providing direct funding to groups and individuals: www.seattlefoundation.org/communityimpact/civic-leadership/covid-19-response-fund
Grants Assist American Performing Artists Participating in Festivals Abroad USArtists International is committed to ensuring that the impressive range of the performing arts in the United States is represented abroad, and that American artists can enhance their creative and professional development through participation at international festivals. Click HERE for more info.
MORE RESOURCES: https://artisttrust.org/covid-19-resources-list/ https://www.4culture.org/covid-19-resource-list/