Updated 4.21.2020
This post updates information from the #3 of 8 posts in March 2020... Links for funding.
Please note the links are for general information purposes only and my comments/summaries are not tax/business/legal/medical advice. Please consult your own resources for advice that best suits your individual situation.
Art by Dawn Maciocia
https://www.dawnmaciocia.com/
FUNDING SOURCES for INDIE ARTIST RESOURCES
This crisis has proved this fact: We value art and artists. All the art, music, dance posts and streaming being shared proves we turn to art when we need to be nurtured. How we heal each other defines us as individuals and a culture. This is the Renaissance for appreciation of artists, scientists, grocery store clerks and cashiers, delivery drivers, highway rest stop staff, and all the newly-drafted "first responders" in aprons, smocks, gloves, goggles and masks. They've joined the ranks of our traditional Essential Emergency services. We'll get through this together -- now is the time to be kind and practice those hard human virtues. Love each other.
UPDATE 4.21.20
LA Times article on Sundance Institute $1 million fund
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2020-04-17/sundance-institute-coronavirus-relief-fund
Quote: One-third of the fund will go to the approximately 100 participants in the 2020 spring and summer Sundance labs. One-third of the grants will be open to artists across the U.S. in partnership with the new cross-disciplinary, need-based fund Artist Relief. The final third of the money will support U.S. and international independent artist organizations.
UPDATE 4.12.20
List of Funding sources shared on 'The Complete Creative" website"
https://thecompletecreative.com/covidgrants/?fbclid=
Book Industry Charitable Foundation
https://www.bincfoundation.org/what-we-do/
From Counsel for Creators Legal Services (a California law firm for Small Business and Indie artists/creators) https://counselforcreators.com/about/
This link will take you to an extensive list of resources
https://counselforcreators.com/log/covid-19-resources/
I have been a client of this service for many years and highly recommend them.
This 3 mins video will walk you through some of the services you can access as a member
https://www.loom.com/share/b29c4960371a4384b459d761807faed6
As a service to small businesses in CA, the firm has made this link available to the public.https://www.crowdcast.io/e/creators-legal-session/
It shows their appx 1 hour long 4/1/20 weekly online QandA session, covering funding options for indie artists and small business owners.
Text below and link above from the Counsel for Creators Facebook page:
"We know times are tough right now and that it's become more challenging for small businesses to stay afloat. But did you know that there are two SBA-backed loans that are available now to provide financial relief?
Our partners Jon Tobin and
Chuong Bui did a Q and A session yesterday to go over those options.
Since the information is so important we're making the replay video available to the public (replays are normally reserved only for Creators' Legal Program subscribers).
Check it and pass it on to any friends/colleagues/family who are self-employed or run a business."
More on the Counsel for Creators subscription service here: https://counselforcreators.com/creators-legal-program
GO FUND ME SMALL BUSINESS INITIATIVE
Posted by "Marea Baja Designs" an artist w/ indie business who is using this program:
The Small Business Relief Initiative was started by GoFundMe to help small businesses that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and empower their communities to rally behind them. The fund will issue $500 matching grants to qualifying businesses that raise at least $500 on GoFundMe.
If you are an indie artist w/ a small business, you can start a Go Fund Me page under this program and be elibiblge for matching funds. See Go Fund Me page for details
Text below is from Go Fund Me link above. :
Help Small Businesses Affected by Coronavirus
The GoFundMe Small Business Relief Initiative is intended to support our local businesses facing financial loss. Make a difference today by donating or starting a fundraiser.
Are you a small business owner? Search and claim your fundraiser.
Start a fundraiser if you can’t find a GoFundMe for your business. Small businesses may also apply for a matching grant from the
Small Business Relief Fund.
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UPDATE 4.14.20 -- this section is from Graphic Artist Guild
National Grants
The Artists’ Fellowship, Inc.
is a
501 (c) 3 charitable foundation that financially assists professional visual
artists and their families in times of emergency, disability or bereavement.
Assistance is given without expectation of repayment. One does not need to be a
member of the Fellowship to receive assistance nor does membership in the
Artists’ Fellowship entitle one to assistance from the foundation. Learn more.
Arts and Culture
Leaders of Color Emergency Fund:
For
those who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) pursuing
careers as artists or arts administrators whose income has been directly
impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Apply here.
Business for All:
Apply
for grants up to $50,000 to support business growth, including $10,000
emergency COVID-19 Business for All Grants to help small businesses in
crisis. Learn more.
Read the grant requirements carefully.
Refresh and check our COVID Resources page often. We’ll work to keep this list
updated on our website as more more grants come online, or as grants spend down
their funding. This list is updated as of 4/13/20.
CERF+ Artists Safety Net COVID Relief:
CERF+
serves artists who work in craft disciplines by providing a safety net to
support strong and sustainable careers. Their COVID-19 relief aid is being
provided to those who require intensive medical care. Learn more.
Foundation for
Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant:
Grants
between $200 and $2500 for visual and performing artists. Applications reviewed
monthly. Learn more.
GoFundMe/Yelp:
GoFundMe
is partnering with Yelp to fund the Small Business Relief Initiative supports
those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Initiative will provide
fundraising tools and grants to help during the crisis.
Learn more.
(Graphic Artists Guild has) also posted
links to state and local grants. Visit the State-by-State section of (their) COVID Resources page, and click onto your state to see what grants and
resources are available. Note that if your state doesn’t list any grants, check
back. (GAG is) adding information as it becomes available.
Healthwell Foundation
COVID-19 Fund:
Maximum
award level of $250 to help cover costs related to delivered food, medication,
diagnostics, transportation and telehealth as a result of COVID-19 risk or
incidence. Applicants must earn 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (adjusted for
household size and high cost of living areas). Telephone applications
only. Learn more.
NALAC COVID-19 Relief Efforts:
The National
Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) recognizes the compounding
impact that the COVID-19 public health pandemic is having on our communities
and artistic field. In this moment of uncertainty, we return to the importance
of confianza – the act of mutual trust and support to carve a way forward.
Rauschenberg Emergency
Grants:
The
Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)
have partnered to administer a new emergency grant program to provide one-time
grants of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical emergencies. The grants are
available to 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. Learn more.
Red Backpack Fund:
1,000
grants of $5,000 each to female entrepreneurs in the U.S. to help alleviate the
immediate needs and support the long-term recovery of those impacted by the
COVID-19 crisis. Monthly deadlines. Sign up for notification of the next
opening. Learn more.
Post resumes here....
UPDATE 4.5.20 -- 2 LA Times links
LA Times story
"Here's how one L.A. business owner is nagivating government help for the corona virus," by Michael Hiltzik, 4.3.20
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-04-03/community-bookstore-shutdown
quote: "There’s no question that the government has thrown businesses like Holter’s a lifeline. But he points out that they need a lifeline because the U.S. government has forsaken its responsibilities to Americans and placed them on the private sector’s shoulders.
“All this stuff is supposed to be done by the private sector — healthcare, pensions, getting face masks and ventilators — I’m dealing with life and death issues for my employees, and that’s what’s going on all over the country, rather than having a system that’s more rational and more cost-effective. I’d like people to actually learn something from this. It’s unfair for employees and employers.”
LA Times article
"How freelancers can get unemployment pay for work lost to corona virus" by Kathy Kristof, 4.3.20
https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-04-03/freelancers-unemployment-pay-coronavirus
This article is a Q and A format with questions from the trenches of self-employed trying to apply for benefits.
From "Freelance Artists Source" on WordPress. This has general resources, advocacy for freelancers, and national relief funds and grants
https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/?
The Creator Fund from ConvertKit
https://creatorfund.ck.page/?fbclid
Move Humanity Forward Coronavirus Relief Fund
https://movehumanityforward.com/covid-relief
From the Humanity Forward Facebook page:
The Humanity Forward Coronavirus Relief Fund will distribute at least $1 million to those most in need during this time of crisis. Visit https://movehumanityforward.com/covid-relief for more details. #YesWeCare #MoneyForThePeople
Video from Andrew Yang on the Facebook page discusses info on the fund and offers like "micro-loans from $250-$500"
https://www.facebook.com/humanity4ward/videos/1502266196590132/
campaign to add Displaced Entertainment workers to Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201)
There is an online Petition to include displaced entertainment workers in this federal relief package
My comment on this:
"Oh heck yes!! Indie artists are major contributors to all the “free” image sharing that fuels social media. Only those images aren’t free, the are the time, talent and expense (have you ever priced art supplies???) of artists. Not to mention the content uploaded by dancers, musicians etc."
Link for info on the (IATSE sponsored) petition:
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-to-include-displaced-workers-in-relief-package?
Variety article on
Entertainment Industry Foundation Coronavirus Response Fund
https://variety.com/2020/film/news/entertainment-industry-foundation-coronavirus-response-fund-1203541945/
LA Times article w/
list of industry resources
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-03-24/entertainment-industry-offers-string-of-funds-for-help?fbclid
Los Angeles TV station story w/
list of companies hiring in SoCal
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/coronavirus/hiring-jobs-coronavirus-california/2332860/?fbclid
#PAYUPHOLLYWOOD Go Fund Me site for industry assistants
LA Times article by Anousha Sakoui 3.19.2020
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2020-03-17/hollywood-group-sets-up-covid-19-relief-fundraising-to-help-assistants
Quote:
"The three women who have been spearheading the movement known as #PayUpHollywood — Liz Alper, Jamarah Hayner and Deirdre Mangan — along with a group of leading TV writers and others, created a GoFundMe site to raise money for assistants who face lost work as productions shut down."
Link for the Go Fund Me site:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/44ndst-relief-fund-for-hollywood-support-staff
Graphics below posted by indie comic book retail store "Geoffrey's Comics" illustrate ways to pivot your business model. Find ways to still deliver service your clients want from you.
Some articles with background on funding efforts
Tips on how some grass roots funding got started, and how to give safely to online campaigns
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/arts/virus-fundraising-workers.html
Institutions across the country are answering the call for support
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/millions-of-dollars-are-pouring-in-to-help-new-york-city-arts-groups-will-it-inspire-more/2020/03/20/0dd6c8de-6a32-11ea-b313-df458622c2cc_story.html
United Kingdom Resource
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid-19/financial-support-artists-creative-practitioners-and-freelancers?fbclid
The SNB website is available 24/7.
