BLOG POST: Coronavirus Resources for Creatives
All around the world, COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus) has impacted our daily lives. In order to stop the spread of the disease, many places have enacted shelter in place for their residents and the work done by artists, musicians, and other professionals have come to a complete halt.
Many organizations have created funds to assist workers during the pandemic and we have gathered a list of some of them below.
American Federation of Musicians
The American Federation of Musicians has gathered a list of resources available in the United States and Canada which is available on their site here: https://www.afm.org/covid-19/#get
Authority Collective
The Authority Collective is a group of womxn, femmes, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people of color reclaiming their authority in the photography, film and VR/AR industries. The collective has provided a list of resources available on their website:
https://www.authoritycollective.org/coronavirus-resources
COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
An aggregated list of free resources, financial relief, opportunities and other options available to freelance artists. https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/
The Crew Nation Relief Fund
Live Nation Entertainment has started a fund for live entertainment crew employees who have been directly impacted by COVID-19. The HOB Music Forward Foundation will be selecting recipients based on an objective determination of need. Live Nation employees are ineligible.
https://www.livenationentertainment.com/relief-fund/
Diversify Photo Relief Print Sale
There are prints for sale by Diversify Photo with sales going directly to over 100 artists of color that are impacted by COVID-19.https://diversifyphoto.darkroom.tech/
Freelancer’s Relief Fund
A relief fund created by The Freelancers Union offers up to $1,000 per freelance household to assist with lost work, utilities, and other bills as a result of COVID-19.
https://www.freelancersunion.org/resources/freelancers-relief-fund/
Joan Mitchell Foundation
The Joan Mitchell Foundation has created a fund to support US based visual artists (painting, sculpture, and/or drawing) up to $6,000 who have experienced significant losses due to Coronavirus:
https://joanmitchellfoundation.org/artist-programs/artist-grants/emergency
MusiCares
The charitable foundation of the Recording Academy has established a fund to help people in the music community impacted by COVID-19.
https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/musicares-coronavirus-relief-fund
National Endowment for the Arts COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
The NEA has gathered a list of service organizations that are offering relief for artists and arts organizations that will be updated frequently.
https://www.arts.gov/covid-19-resources-for-artists-and-arts-organizations
The Photographer Fund
A $25,000 fund to help photographers who are impacted by COVID-19 by Format. You do not need to be a Format customer in order to apply.
https://www.format.com/photographer-fund
The Sweet Relief COVID-19 Fund
Sweet Relief has created a fund to directly support musicians and music industry workers with their expenses.https://www.sweetrelief.org/covid-19-fund.html
Women Photograph Fund:
Women Photograph, an international organization that aims to elevate the voices of women, nonbinary and transgender visual journalists, is currently collecting donations to help support their members who have been impacted financially by Coronavirus. https://www.womenphotograph.com/donate
In the United States, the CARES act was recently passed and unemployment benefits were expanded to include more groups of people, such as self employed workers plus extending the length of time people can collect unemployment payments. Visit the Department of Labor website for your state in order to learn more and apply.
In addition to the funds and services provided above, the best way to support artists and musicians is to buy items directly from them. If you’re in a position to help out financially, please buy their art or merchandise via their websites or their Bandcamp during this crisis and after it subsides.
Submitted by: Edwina Hay