resources for artists
ways artists can seek help during covid-19 pandemic
Many artists - visual and performing alike - are hit hard when crises like the one we currently face confront us. Luckily, there are many terrific organizations throughout our nation with resources and the intention to support artists of all kinds.
In an effort to make things easier for artists, we’ve compiled the list below with a number of links to organizations and resources prepared to support artists in various ways. We will add to this list with new opportunities periodically.
Of course, if you’re an artist in the Baton Rouge area who has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, let us know and we will work to the best of our ability to help you connect with those who might be able to help.
Start with Expressing Your Need
The Louisiana Division of the Arts and our state's nine Regional Arts Councils are surveying the arts field at-large to gather data on the potential financial impacts of this public health emergency. If you are an organization or individual in the arts field that anticipates losing personal or business income related to COVID-19, please consider filling out this brief survey. This is a quickly evolving situation and this data will be an important resource to inform our agency, the state and our national partners.
Grants, Funds, and Other Resources:
Numerous opportunities are listed below, but we encourage you to also check out The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge’s Creative Relief page for additional information about how artists can seek support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arts & Culture Leaders of Color Fund - This emergency fund can provide up to $200 for people of color that are either working artist or art administration and are affected by COVID-19.
Author League Fund - The Author League Fund helps professional writers in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune by providing no-strings-attached “loans” to pay for pressing expenses.
The Blues Foundation HART Fund - The Blues Foundation Handy Artists Relief Trust Fund is available to Blues musicians and their families who are in financial need due to a broad range of health concerns.
CERF+ Emergency Relief Fund - Artists who have suffered from a recent, career threatening emergency, such as an illness, accident, fire or natural disaster, can apply for funding. CERF+ also has a list of resources centered around the pandemic.
Disabled Creator and Activist Pandemic Relief - Volunteers are currently collecting information for this fund aimed at giving aid to disabled creators and artists who've lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Format’s Photographer Fund - Format has put together a $25,000 relief fund designed to help photographers facing financial difficulties during the outbreak. The fund offers $500 per person.
The Foundation for Contemporary Arts - The Foundation for Contemporary Arts offers Emergency Grants between $200 and $2,500 for visual and performing artists. They review applications once a month, so you can quickly take advantage of momentum or solve any budget errors.
Gottlieb Emergency Grant Program - This emergency grant provides financial assistance to painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation.
Jazz Foundation Musicians Fund - Musicians who have made a living playing blues, jazz, and roots music can apply for emergency funding from the Jazz Foundation.
Max’s Kansas City Emergency Grants - The Max’s Kansas City project provides emergency funding and resources to professionals in the creative arts.
Musicians Foundation - The Musicians Foundation provides grants to U.S. musicians in any genre in a time of acute need due to personal, medical, dental, or family crisis, natural disaster, or other emergency situation.
Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund - This fund is for queer writers of color who are in need of financial assistance. The fund will make disbursements once per day.
Rauschenberg Emergency Grants - NYFA and the Rauschenberg Foundation have teamed up to offer visual and media artists and choreographers in the US grants of up to $5,000 for medical related emergencies.
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund - If you're a musician or music industry worker who lost 50% of your income, you're eligible to apply to this fund.
Twenty Summers Emergency Arts Fund - Twenty Summer has launched an emergency fund for artists and arts organizations suffering from unexpected and unmanageable financial loss as a result of the COVID-19. Artists can receive up to $500, while arts organizations can receive up to $1,000.