As artists, culture bearers, creative workers, freelancers, and more lose work and income due to cancellations and closings related to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, we look to share resources to support our community. This is a non-comprehensive list of emergency relief funds and funding resources as we navigate this moment together.
This page is an evolving list of resources for information, exchange, and support in this time. Accuracy at any given point cannot be guaranteed as this is a fast-moving and evolving situation. Please be in touch with updates or resources to add.
Springboard for the Arts' Personal Emergency Relief Fund is a resource dedicated to supporting artists in Minnesota who experience career-threatening emergencies. We have expanded the guidelines to include lost income due to the cancellation of a specific, scheduled gig or opportunity (i.e. commissions, performances, contracts) due to Coronavirus/COVID-19 precautionary measures. Artists can request up to $500 to compensate for cancelled work that was scheduled and lost.
As of 6/24/2020 we are pausing new applications to the Emergency Relief Fund because we have allocated all the funds we have been able to raise. We will continue to process submitted applications and fund them as we are able. We will pause the ERF program in July to plan for the future of this work and hope to relaunch a new version of the program in August.
Since the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic broke and Springboard launched the Coronavirus Response Personal Emergency Relief Fund, we've been heartened by both the number of people who want to give and the number of emergency funds popping up. We've fielded a lot of inquiries about our program and how we've managed it, and so we've put together a quick overview resource, "So You Want to Start an Emergency Relief Fund." We're sharing our program structure and big picture thoughts about running an emergency relief fund since 2001. We hope it's useful to you as you plan your response for your community.
More emergency resources and relief funds for artists, creative workers, and self-employed freelancers:
We have set up a fundraiser to expand the Personal Emergency Relief Fund, so that we can continue to support artists, contractors, and freelancers in Minnesota who have lost income due to Coronavirus/COVID-19. Please click below to give online, or send a check to:
Springboard for the Arts
Attn: Individual Giving
262 University Avenue West
Saint Paul, MN 55103
If you have any questions about individual giving, please contact Katie Hae Leo, Development Director, at katiehl@springboardforthearts.org, or 651-292-4381.
See our collection of local and national resources for artists and creative workers responding to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
MINNESOTA-SPECIFIC RESOURCES
Arrowhead Regional Arts Council – (Minnesota)
http://aracouncil.org/small-grant-covid19/
Carver County Small Business Emergency Assistance Program
https://www.carvercda.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/FAQs.pdf
East Central Regional Arts Council Emergency Response Grants – (Minnesota)
https://www.ecrac.org/grants/individual/covid-19-emergency-response-grant-individuals
Forecast Public Art – (Minnesota)
https://forecastpublicart.org/covid-19/
Hennepin County Economic Development - Small Business Relief Program
https://www.hennepin.us/economic-development/programs/Emergency-relief?utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
MNDEED Coronavirus Information for Workers – (Minnesota)
https://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/covid/workers/
Minnesota Film Community Emergency Relief Fund – (Minnesota)
https://myfilmnorth.org/minnesota-film-community-emergency-relief-fund/
Minnesota Small Business Relief Grants
https://mn.gov/deed/business/financing-business/deed-programs/relief/
Neighbors United Funding Collaborative – (Minnesota)
https://midwayunited.org/
Ramsey County Small Business Relief Fund
https://www.ramseycountymeansbusiness.com/relief-fund
Saint Paul Bridge Fund – (St. Paul, MN)
https://www.stpaul.gov/saint-paul-bridge-fund
The North Stands – (Minnesota)
https://thenorthstands.org/
Twin Cities Music Community Trust – (Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN)
https://www.twincitiesmusiccommunitytrust.org/
Unemployment Insurance – (Minnesota)
https://www.uimn.org/applicants/needtoknow/news-updates/covid-19.jsp
Unemployment Insurance, CARES Act Updates – (Minnesota)
https://www.uimn.org/applicants/needtoknow/news-updates/cares-act.jsp
Unemployment Insurance, Step by Step Guide – (Minnesota)
Step-by-Step Guide to Completing the Unemployment Insurance Application for Self-Employed and Contract Workers (published March 30): https://www.uimn.org/assets/application-step-by-step-instructions-selfemployed_tcm1068-425640.pdf
Unemployment Insurance, Informational webinar recorded on 4/9/2020 – (Minnesota)
https://springboardforthearts.org/resources-access/legal-assistance/coronavirus/
Unemployment Insurance, Springboard for the Arts FAQ page – (Minnesota)
https://springboardforthearts.org/resources-access/legal-assistance/coronavirus/ui-faq/
https://www.midwayart.org/vaf-
REGION-SPECIFIC RESOURCES
4Culture Cultural Relief Fund – (King County, WA)
https://www.4culture.org/cultural-relief-fund/
516 Fulcrum Fund – (New Mexico)
https://www.516arts.org/
Artist Emergency Relief Fund – (Greensboro, NC)
https://www.artsgreensboro.org/emergency-fund-artist-application/
Artists Benevolence Fund – (Laguna Beach, CA)
https://sawdustartfestival.org/about/artists-benevolence-fund/
Artists of Color Emergency Grants – (Illinois)
https://www.forthepeoplecollective.org/
Arts Aid PHL – (Philadelphia, PA)
https://philaculture.org/
Arts for Illinois – (Illinois)
https://3arts.org/artist-relief
Black and Brown Creatives Artist Emergency Fund for Boston Area Critically At-Risk Artists – (Massachusetts)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ZOo3u7pYkDnnWx52uNcSn8NYnlb6T4nTxf03KWz51r4/viewform?edit_requested=true
Black Cube Open Call – (Colorado)
https://blackcube.art/event/video-art-open-call-for-submissions
Boston Artist Relief Fund – (Boston, MA)
https://cityofbostonartsandculture.submittable.com/submit/af2153eb-2d87-4e9d-9ebc-5861eb135999/boston-artist-relief-fund
Boston Dance Alliance Dance Relief Fund – (Boston, MA)
https://www.bostondancealliance.org/boston-dance-alliance-dance-relief-fund/
Cambridge Artist Relief Fund – (Cambridge, MA)
http://cambridgecf.org/artist-relief-fund/
Charlottesville Emergency Relief Fund – (Charlottesville, VA)
https://thebridgepai.org/charlottesville-emergency-relief-fund-for-artists/
Chicago Artist Relief Fund – (Chicago, IL)
https://docs.google.com/forms/
Crosshatch Artist Emergency Fund – (Michigan)
https://www.crosshatch.org/emergency
Culture Connects Coalition Artist Relief Fund – (Santa Fe, NM)
https://www.santafenm.gov/culture_connects_coalition
Dancers Above Water Relief Fund – (NYC, NY)
https://www.barkinselissenproject.org/dancersabovewater
Durham Artist Relief Fund – (Durham, NC)
https://www.northstardurham.com/artistrelief
Emergency Relief Fund for Arizona Artists and Arts Professionals – (Arizona)
https://azarts.gov/grant/emergency-relief-fund/
Erie Arts & Culture, Emergency Financial Assistance Fund – (Erie, PA)
https://www.erieartsandculture.org/programs-and-services/funding/emergency-financial-assistance-fund/
Fairmount Cultural Corridor Artist Relief – (Boston, MA)
https://www.ds4si.org/blog/
Flamboyan Arts Fund – (Puerto Rico)
https://mellon.org/news-blog/
Houston Arts Alliance – (Houston, TX)
https://houstonartsalliance.
Indy Arts & Culture COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund – (Indianapolis, IN)
https://indykeepscreating.org/apply/
Imagine 2020 Artist Assistance Fund – (Denver, CO)
http://www.artsandvenuesdenver.com/about-imagine-2020/imagine-2020-artist-assistance-fund
Imagine MKE – (Milwaukee, WI)
https://imaginemke.org/mke-artist-relief-fund/
KC Spaces Fund – (Kansas City, MO)
https://kcspacesfund.com/
Martha Kate Thomas Fund for Artists Grant, Boulder County Arts Alliance – (Boulder, CO)
https://www.bouldercountyarts.org/thomas_fund_grant_guidelines
New Orleans Business Alliance Relief Fund for Gig Workers – (New Orleans, LA)
https://www.nolaba.org/relief-fund/
North Carolina Artist Relief Fund – (North Carolina)
https://vaeraleigh.org/artist-relief-fund
Oolite Arts - Relief Fund for artists for COVID-19 – (Miami, FL)
https://oolitearts.org/relieffund/
Pittsburgh Arts Council Emergency Fund for Artists – (Pittsburgh, PA)
https://www.pittsburghartscouncil.org/programs/artist-services/emergency-fund
Safety Net Fund Bay Area – (Bay Area, CA)
https://medium.com/@safetynet/the-safety-net-fund
Seattle Artists Relief Fund Amid COVID-19 – (Seattle, WA)
https://www.gofundme.com/f/for-artists
http://www.scartshub.com/
Tamarack Foundation for the Arts – (West Virginia)
https://tamarackfoundation.org/fund-your-ideas/emergency-relief-funds/
The Columbus Foundation Emergency Response Fund – (Columbus, OH)
https://columbusfoundation.org/coronavirus-emergency-response-fund
Theatre Bay Area’s Performing Arts Worker Relief Fund – (Bay Area, CA)
https://www.theatrebayarea.
Vermont Rapid Response Artist Relief – (Vermont)
https://www.vermontartscouncil.org/grants/artists/rapid-response-artist-relief
Wingspan Theatrical Design – (New York City)
https://charity.gofundme.com/
USA RESOURCES
Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation – (USA)
https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/individual-support-grant-1/
American Documentary COVID-19 Artist Emergency Fund – (USA)
https://www.amdoc.org/create/funds-residencies/
American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Relief Fund– (USA)
https://agmarelief.org/
Anonymous Was a Woman Emergency Relief Grant – (USA)
https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Anonymous-Was-A-Woman-Emergency-Relief-Grant
Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund – (USA)
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfv4AazvLFVUNAgXoxqBqfZ7jJVkrMroa-CET6Vt6XygR-CaQ/formResponse
Backstage COVID-19 Resource List for Performers – (USA)
https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/coronavirus-covid19-actor-performing-arts-news-resources-70497/
CERF+ – (USA)
https://cerfplus.org/get-relief/apply-for-help/
Comedy Gives Back – (USA)
https://www.comedygivesback.com/covid-19-grant
COVID-19 Mutual Aid & Advocacy Resources – (USA)
http://bit.ly/covid19collectivecare
Creative Capital Resource List – (USA)
https://creative-capital.org/2020/03/13/list-of-arts-resources-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/
Creative Reaction Lab COVID-19 Youth Creative Leadership Fund
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ApplyYCLF
Dramatists Guild Foundation – (USA)
https://dgf.org/programs/grants/grants-for-writers/
Emerging Artist Initiative
https://www.eaifund.com/
Equal Sound Corona Relief Fund – (USA)
https://equalsound.org/musicians-corona-relief-fund-application/
Field of Vision Virtual Mentorship – (USA)
https://mailchi.mp/fieldofvision/fov-virtual-consult?e=c32d7fc905
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants – (USA)
https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants
International Documentary Association COVID-19 Resources – (USA)
https://www.documentary.org/creators/covid19
Jazz Foundation of America – (USA)
http://www.jazzfoundation.org/what-we-do/housing-and-emergency-assistance
Jenie Gao: Small Business Administration from an artist's perspective
https://learningtosee.jenie.org/sba-disaster-loan-artists-edition-what-you-need-to-know/
Joan Mitchell Foundation – (USA)
http://joanmitchellfoundation.org/artist-programs/artist-grants/emergency
MusiCares – (USA)
https://www.grammy.com/musicares
Opportunity Agenda Creative Change COVID-19 Emergency Assistance – (USA)
https://www.opportunityagenda.org/creativechange-covid19-assistance
PEN America Writers Emergency Fund – (USA)
https://pen.org/writers-emergency-fund/
Pillars Rapid Response Fund for Muslim artists and activists – (USA)
https://pillarsfund.org/rapid-response-fund/
Rauschenberg Emergency Grants – (USA)
https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Rauschenberg-Emergency-Grants
Shade Literary Arts Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund – (USA)
https://www.gofundme.com/f/queer-writers-of-color-relief-fund
Sundance Institute COVID-19 Resources to the Individuals – (USA)
https://www.sundance.org/covid19
Sweet Relief COVID-19 Fund – (USA)
https://www.sweetrelief.org/covid-19-fund.html
Tegan and Sara Foundation Community Grants – (USA)
https://www.teganandsarafoundation.org/communitygrants
The Actors Fund – (USA)
http://actorsfund.org/services-and-programs/entertainment-assistance-program
Unemployment Insurance – (USA)
Check your state's UI for details
University of Florida Center for Arts in Medicine COVID-19 Arts Response – (USA)
https://covid.response.arts.ufl.edu/
US Department of Arts & Culture Resource List – (USA)
https://usdac.us/news-long/2020/3/15/community-care-in-the-time-of-coronavirus
Writers Emergency Assistance Fund – (USA)
http://asja.org/For-Writers/WEAF
INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES
Artist Emergency Relief Fund – (Ireland)
https://www.civictheatre.ie/blog/civic-news/artist-emergency-relief-fund/
Artist Relief Tree – (International)
https://artistrelieftree.com/request-funding/
Artists At Risk Connection – (International)
https://artistsatriskconnection.org/
COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resource – (International)
https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/
South West Creatives – Corona Virus Impact Fund – (Bristol, England)
https://www.gofundme.com/f/south-west-artists-corona-impact-fund