We here at Front Row Center miss you all like crazy – and if you are in need, or would like to make a contribution to help artists who are definitely in need – here are some terrific organizations.
Thanks to Carol Tambor for this list
GENERAL SUPPORT FOR ARTISTS:
- Freelance Artist Resource (BEST LINK): https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/
- The Actors Fund:
https://actorsfund.org/workshops
- Enroll in “online seminars in career enrichment, financial wellness, health insurance, affordable housing and more.”
- Call for help if you need: New York City: 212.221.7300 ext. 119
- PLUS Resources Database: https://actorsfund.org/resources?field_level_1_name_tid=412&field_states_value=All
- Gig cancellations due to Coronavirus: Survival Tips for Freelancers:
- Actors’ Guild Resources for Performers:
“If you are a qualified performer in need of assistance, please email our executive director at karen@actorsguild.org.”
- (Eligibility:A. Proof of status as a professional performing artist:
- Proof of an ongoing and sustained professional career:
- Documentation of a minimum of 5 consecutive years of earnings as a professional performing artist, of which at least 3 separate years must present annual earnings of at least $5,000.
- If a career of 10 or more cumulative years can be documented, 5 of those years must present earnings of at least $5,000.
- A career of 20 or more cumulative years must present earnings of $5,000 or more in 10 of those years.
- If an individual is disabled or retired, earnings during the final 5 years of a career before retirement or disability may be considered. Performers who are vested and receiving performing arts union pensions are also eligible.
- Actors Pantry:
https://www.actorsguild.org/actors-pantry.html
GRANTS FOR ARTISTS:
- Rauschenberg Emergency Grants
https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Rauschenberg-Emergency-Grants
Open to visual and media artists and choreographers. If you aren’t sure if your artistic discipline fits within these guidelines, please contact emergencyfunds@nyfa.org.
- Open to artists who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the United States, District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories.
- Applicants must demonstrate current and ongoing activity in artistic discipline/s.
- Applicants cannot be enrolled in any degree-seeking program.
- Up to $5,000 cash grant
- Writers’ Emergency Fund:
https://pen.org/writers-emergency-fund/
Quick recap of guidelines:
- Full-length play, performed in a theater of over 250 seats by a professional theater company
- Editors/agents who have been professional for the last five years
- Ten or more essays, short stories, or poems in literary anthologies or journals in the last two year
- At least one book by a reputable publishing company
- Employment as a full-time journalist, columnist, or critic by a reputable periodical OR 12+ literary reviews in a nationally recognized print periodical in the last two years
- Artist Relief Tree:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScH1U4u4m0-33NySVZrvkrbxbJE_2ZRxeJAxHlboQGNGqEfkA/viewform
- JOUST App:
https://get.joust.com/covid-19-cancellation
Helps with unpaid invoices and paying bills
- Assistance for Small Businesses with lost business due to COVID
https://www1.nyc.gov/site/sbs/businesses/covid19-business-outreach.page
- Dramatists Guild Foundation – Emergency grants for writers:
- Indie Theater Fund COVID19 Emergency Grant
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSecCdEVyLuziVtMUSb9x8VeMle7bckYtwI880C2Hg26OCJ5_g/viewform
- New York Foundation for the Arts:
List of available grants, by discipline
- A comprehensive list of several grants available:
https://www.stevegiovinco.com/complete-list-of-emergency-fundsgrant-for-visual-artists/
- Some more great resources for grants, separated by discipline:
https://www.womenarts.org/funding-resources/emergencyfunds/#EmergencyAll
IF YOU CAN GIVE:
- Artist Relief Tree (ART):
https://www.facebook.com/donate/1080011789032749/
- NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund
- Indie Theater Relief Fund:
https://www.facebook.com/donate/509591526599992/509591546599990/
- I Lost My Gig
Testimonials for artists in Austin who lost their work due to COVID; provided with various methods of donating directly to certain artists