COVID-19 Emergency Resources for Visual Artists

Please note we are no longer actively updating this list of resources.

We recommend Americans for the Arts Coronavirus Resource and Response Center for a list of current resources.

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In this uncertain time, we understand that artists are struggling and looking for emergency support resources. In response to the unprecedented scale of the COVID-19 crisis, we have increased and reallocated the Joan Mitchell Foundation's Emergency Grants budget to Artist Relief, a national, multidisciplinary initiative offering rapid, unrestricted funding of $5,000 to individual artists in all disciplines.

In addition to that effort, we've compiled a list of resources here that may address your most immediate needs.

Last updated: August 14, 2021

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National Funds

• Artist Charitable Fund (for medical bill assistance only)
• Artist Fellowship, Inc.
• Artist Relief Tree
• CERF+ (Update: Funding has shifted from medical needs to dire financial need)
• Foundation for Contemporary Arts
• Hero Initiative (for comic creators)
• Leveler.info (not arts-specific, but artists can apply: a peer-to-peer wealth distribution tool)
• Red Bull MicroGrants

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Regional Funds

(As defined by the regional arts associations)

New England

MAINE

• Portland Artist Relief Fund (Portland)

MASSACHUSETTS

• Cape Cod Artists Relief Fund (Barnstable County/Cape Cod)

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MID-ATLANTIC

NEW YORK

• Mayer Foundation (NYC)

WASHINGTON, DC

• Wherewithal Recovery Grants (Residents within I-495 Beltway)

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MIDWEST

ILLINOIS

• Chicago Artist Relief Fund (Chicago) – Currently closed: sign up available for re-opening notification

INDIANA

• Indy Arts & Culture COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund – Deadline August 22, 2021

MICHIGAN

• Crosshatch Artist Emergency Fund (Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties)

WISCONSIN

• Chippewa Valley Artist Relief Fund (Chippewa Valley)

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WEST

CALIFORNIA

• Alternate Exposure (Bay Area) — Deadline Sep 13, 2021

COLORADO

• Martha Kate Thomas Fund for Artists (Boulder County)

NEBRASKA

• The Populous Fund (Artists within 75-mile radius of Omaha) — Deadline September 6, 2021

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SOUTH

TEXAS

• Amor Por Juarez Covid-19 Relief Fund (El Paso and Juarez) — Deadline not listed
• Austin Creative Alliance Artists Emergency Relief Fund (Greater Austin area)

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Emergency Resource Lists

• Americans for the Arts
  NOTE: Please sign up for emails from Americans for the Arts to receive information and webinars about current advocacy efforts and assistance with applying for stimulus package support.
• Artists Thrive
  
• Artist Trust
• Center for Cultural Innovation
• Common Field
• COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
• Creative Capital
• National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER)
• National Performance Network
• New York Foundation for the Arts
• Women Arts Emergency Funds
• Yerba Buena Center for the Arts: Artist Power Center

Webinars & Videos

• Negotiating the Unexpected, webinar hosted by Center for Cultural Innovation
• Rallying Together: Resources to Support Artists During COVID-19, webinar hosted by CERF+ & Artwork Archive
• Coping with COVID: Centering Wellness and Self-Care for Creatives, webinar hosted by Creative Capital
• Coping with COVID: Financial Implications for Creative Individuals, webinar hosted by Creative Capital
• Coping with COVID: Time Management for Artists during Challenging Times, webinar hosted by Creative Capital
• American for the Arts: Office Hours with Nina (Fridays, 11am-12pm ET)
• COVID-19 relief programs for immigrant and non-immigrant foreign workers, webinar hosted by Artpreneur.org
• Community Conversation on COVID-19, hosted by NYC Arts in Education Roundtable (Recording & transcript available)
• Panel: Artists In a Time of Global Pandemic, hosted by Howlround Theatre Commons (ASL & Captioned, transcript available)
• New Orleans: Paycheck Protection Plan for Individual Artists Webinar, hosted by Arts Council New Orleans and Prospect New Orleans

Other Resources

• NYC COVID-19 Business Financial Assistance
• Volunteers Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts (VLA)
• VLA Emergency Response Legal Services Hotline: 617-350-7600 or email [email protected]