BRATTLEBORO — Several sources of assistance are available for area artists and arts organizations that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic:
• The Artist Relief Fund, a $10 million national emergency relief fund for artists and creative workers that will provide $5,000 no-strings-attached grants, was recently created.
It is intended for anyone who earns income from their creative or artistic practice and who has also been affected by COVID-19.
Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists.
To be eligible for a relief grant, applicants must be practicing artists able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to their work, careers, and a public audience; experiencing dire financial emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic; be 21 years of age or older; able to receive taxable income in the U.S. (e.g. citizen, green card holder, and/or permanent resident who can provide a W9 form and a Social Security number or individual taxpayer ID number); residing and working in the U.S. for the last two years; not a full-time employee, board member, director, officer, or immediate family member of any of the coalition partners; and not previously awarded a relief grant from this fund.
Artist Relief coalition partners will make final eligibility determinations as needed. Learn more at artistrelief.org.
• The Vermont Arts Council has established a Vermont Rapid Response Artist Relief fund to respond to the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on artists across the state.
Information and resources for artists and organizations as well as a guide for creating virtual arts experiences during this time of social distancing can be found at vermontartscouncil.org/covid-19.
• The New England Foundation for the Arts has also assembled resources to share with the arts and culture sector.
There is very clear information on the CARES Act Unemployment Insurance and Small Business Assistance provisions for artists and organizations, including how and where to apply for unemployment insurance and small business assistance and emergency resources and relief.
Find out more at nefa.org/covid-19.