COVID-19 Artist Funding Sources
Top 10 Funding Sources
Artist Relief https://www.artistrelief.org – Artist Relief is distributing $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial circumstances due to COVID-19. Requirements:
Available for practicing artists who can demonstrate commitment to their work, careers, and a public audiences
21 years of age old older
Provide W9 and social security number
Residing and working in the US for at least two years
Not a full time employee, board member, family member, director, or officer of any coalition partners
Not previously granted relief award
Arts for Illinois Relief Fund https://3arts.org/artist-relief/ – $1,500 grants for practicing artists who are Illinois residents and are experiencing financial loss or hardship due to COVID-19. Applications reopen on May 4. Requirements:
Illinois is your home-base and geographic focus
Eligible to receive taxable income in the US
Practicing artist capable of producing examples of creative work from the last two years
At least 18 years of age
Not currently enrolled in degree program (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or if PhD coursework must be completed)
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants-covid-19-fund – A temporary fund to meet the needs of experimental artists who have been impacted by the ecomonic fallout from postponed or cancelled performances and exhibitions. The board will disperse one-time $1,500 grants to artists who have exhibitions or performances closed due to the pandemic. Requirements:
Mainly for artists who the FCA considers contemporary and/or experimental in nature
Artist must demonstrate that they had an event cancelled or postponed
Only for individual artists or artists representing an ensemble
The fund cannot support performers, ensemble members, or designers who were working on a project that was cancelled.
Must be living in the US with a valid tax number
It is still possible to apply if the artist received a grant from FCA in the last three years
Pillars Rapid Response Fund https://pillarsfund.org/rapid-response-fund/ – A fund to support the personal expenses of Muslim artists and activists whose livelihoods are being negatively impacted by this current moment. $500 grants are available to individuals. Applications temporarily closed.
Sweet Relief https://www.sweetrelief.org/covid-19-fund.html – A fund for musicians and music industry workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds raised will go to medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food, and other vital living expenses to those impacted due to sickness and loss of work. Requirements:
Documentation proving that at least 50% of income comes from music community
Proof of cancellations
Propeller Fund http://propellerfund.org – Short term financial support to artists who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Open to artists in *Chicagoland area with a practice grounded in visual arts, Propeller Impact Fund will distribute $500 unrestricted one-time grants over four rounds of applications. The $500 grants are dispersed the month following each application deadline. A total of $56,000 will be dispersed over four rounds. All eligible artists are welcome to apply with priority consideration for communities that are impacted disproportionately including: ANAANA artists (African descendant, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Native American), d/Deaf and disabled artists. LGBTQ2SIA+ artists, and gender non-conforming and non-binary artists. Selection process is done via lottery, with priority applications taken into account. Rounds:
Round one: April 22 at 9am CDT – April 25 at 5pm CDT
Round two: June 22 at 9am CDT – June 25 at 5pm CDT
Round three: August 24 at 9am CDT – August 27 at 5pm CDT
Round four: October 26 at 9am CDT – October 29 at 5pm CDT
Eligibility:
Must be individual artist grounded in visual arts
Must demostrate creative activity over the past three years
Applications must be in one of these Illinois counties: Cook, Dekalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, KanKaKee, Kendall, Lake, LaPorte, McHenry & Will
Express how you’ve impacted by COVID-19
Cannot be students enrolled in a degree program
Cannot be artists who have retained full-time jobs
Cannot be Propeller Fund grantees awarded in November 2019
Freelancers Union Relief Fund https://www.freelancersunion.org/resources/freelancers-relief-fund/ – financial assistance of up to $1,000 per freelance household to cover lost income and essential expenses not covered by government relief programs including: food supplies, utility payments, cash assistance to cover income loss.
Restaurant Strong Fund https://www.restaurantstrong.org/apply-for-grant/index.html – relief fund for full time (at least 30 hours per week) restaurant workers. Requirements:
Complete application form
Full time employee (minimum of 30 hours per week, can be multiple restaurants)
Employed for 3 months at the same location
Worked at a restaurant, bar, cafe, or nightclub located in: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont
Submit 2 past full-time (30-hour) paychecks
Crew Nation Relief Fund https://www.livenationentertainment.com/relief-fund/ – a fund to support live music crews who have been directly impacted as shows are put on pause due to COVID-19. Deadline to submit application is May 1st, 2020.
MusiCares COVID-19 Fund https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/covid-19-relief-fund-faq – a fund for music industry professionals who have had cancelled work that was scheduled and lost. Up to $1,000 grants available.
Full List (compiled from all sources)
Actors Fund https://actorsfund.org – national organization that helps performing artists (film, theater, television, music, opera, radio and dance) create a safety net for employment with resources for health insurance, affordable housing, career enrichment, etc.
AGMA https://agmarelief.org (American Guild of Musical Artists) – COVID-19 relief fund for members of AGMA in good standing. Application is online.
Alliance of Artists Communities https://www.artistcommunities.org/emergency-relief-programs – emergency grants of up to $1,000 for artists facing an unforeseen emergency event that has made them unable to participate in residencies. Requirements:
Have been accepted and and scheduled to participate in a residency that is an Organizational Member of the Alliance of Artists Communities
Have experience a recent unforeseen emergency event that would prohibit their ability to participate in residency
Be legal US resident
Artist Relief https://www.artistrelief.org – Artist Relief is distributing $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial circumstances due to COVID-19. Requirements:
Available for practicing artists who can demonstrate commitment to their work, careers, and a public audiences
21 years of age old older
Provide W9 and social security number
Residing and working in the US for at least two years
Not a full time employee, board member, family member, director, or officer of any coalition partners
Not previously granted relief award
Artists’ Charitable Fund http://artistscharitablefund.org/index.html – Fund that assists painters and sculptors in the US with emergency medical bills directly to medical providers. Only assists with emergency medical bill help.
Artists’ Fellowship Inc. https://www.artistsfellowship.org/finacial-aid – Provides emergency medical aid to professional artists and their families. Due to COVID-19, aid is only going to artists with an immediate medical emergency and aftermath.
Arts for Illinois Relief Fund https://3arts.org/artist-relief/ – $1,500 grants for practicing artists who are Illinois residents and are experiencing financial loss or hardship due to COVID-19. Applications reopen on May 4. Requirements:
Illinois is your home-base and geographic focus
Eligible to receive taxable income in the US
Practicing artist capable of producing examples of creative work from the last two years
At least 18 years of age
Not currently enrolled in degree program (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or if PhD coursework must be completed)
Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfv4AazvLFVUNAgXoxqBqfZ7jJVkrMroa-CET6Vt6XygR-CaQ/formResponse – a fund to help individuals who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Color) who are pursuing a careers as artists or arts administrators, in need of immediate financial assistance of $200 per person.
The Blues Foundation – https://blues.org/covid-19-fund/ – COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund is established to help full-time blues musicians whose revenue streams have been severely damaged due to the pandemic.
CERF+ https://cerfplus.org/get-relief/apply-for-help/ – Emergency relief grants for artists who need intensive medical care for COVID-19
Chicago Federation of Musicians https://cfm10208.com/covid-19-information/musicians-emergency-relief-fund – A fund to provide COVID-19 financial releif for musicians in good standing of the Chicago Federation of Musicians. The fund will specifically provide support for members who lost work between 4/13/20 - 5/31/20 due to the global pandemic. Applications must be received by 4/30/20. Checks are anticipated to be mailed out in mid-May 2020
Chicago Theater Workers Relief Fund https://chicagoplays.com/chicago-theatre-relief-workers-fund/ – A fund intended to help replace lsot income due to theatre closures. The fund is available to all who had to stop work and are not getting paid, including those who were on contract, part time employees, and those working on a stipend which was not paid. Chicago area theatre professionals may apply for a $500 grant on a first come first served basis. Requirements:
Proof of paid employment at a Chicago area theatre scheduled to be in rehearsal or production during the COVID-19 outbreak (paystub, contract, agreement)
Documentation from your theatre employer that you will not be paid.
Equal Sound Corona Relief Fund https://equalsound.org/musicians-corona-relief-fund-application/ – A fund for musicians whose gigs have been cancelled due to COVID-19. Availability pending. Requirements:
Be a musician who had a gig cancelled due to the coronavirus that you’re not getting paid for
Upload W9
Upload evidence that the gig was cancelled in a single PDF
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants-covid-19-fund – A temporary fund to meet the needs of experimental artists who have been impacted by the ecomonic fallout from postponed or cancelled performances and exhibitions. The board will disperse one-time $1,500 grants to artists who have exhibitions or performances closed due to the pandemic. Requirements:
Mainly for artists who the FCA considers contemporary and/or experimental in nature
Artist much demonstrate that they had an event cancelled or postponed
Only for individual artists or artists representing an ensemble
The fund cannot support performers, ensemble members, or designers who were working on a project that was cancelled.
Must be living in the US with a valid tax number
It is still possible to apply if the artist received a grant from FCA in the last three years
Jazz Foundation of America COVID-19 Musicians’ Emergency Fund https://jazzfoundation.org/musicians-emergency-fund/ – A fund that provides housing assistance, pro bono medical care to jazz and blues musicians in need. The Jazz Foundation of American is offering counseling and financial support in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Musicians Foundation http://www.musiciansfoundation.org/get-support/eligibility/ – grants for full time musicians in crisis, $500-$3,000. Requirements:
Be a musician in any genre in a time of acute need, due to personal, medical, dental, family crisis, natural disaster, or other emergency situation
Worked in the US as a musician for at least 5 years
Currently reside in the US
Tax documentation that your principal income for the last 5 years was from music
Pillars Rapid Response Fund https://pillarsfund.org/rapid-response-fund/ – A fund to support the personal expenses of Muslim artists and activists whose livelihoods are being negatively impacted by this current moment. $500 grants are available to individuals. Applications are reopened from 4/15/20-4/17/20 at 5pm CT.
Rauschenberg Emergency Grants https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Rauschenberg-Emergency-Grants?fbclid=IwAR2-N07olJYkrslRQ8LIWBKni3NsflKlZZ90agk78naE-oPQbvS7EYmU2zQ – A fund that provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical emergencies. Applications reopen 5/18/20-6/15/20. Requirements:
Must be US citizens or permanent residents in the US.
Must demonstrate ongoing artistic activity
Cannot be enrolled in any degree program.
Sweet Relief https://www.sweetrelief.org/covid-19-fund.html – A fund for musicians and music industry workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds raised will go to medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food, and other vital living expenses to those impacted due to sickness and loss of work. Requirements:
Documentation proving that at least 50% of income comes from music community
Proof of cancellations
The Dancers’ Fund https://chicagodancersunited.org/thedancersfund – A fund for company dancers, freelance dancers, choreographers, musical theater chorus dancers, full-time dance instructors, full time class and rehearsal musicians, full time administrative, production, and technical personnel (others on case-by-case basis) impacted by COVID-19 cancellations. The fund is mainly for medical expenses but may be used to pay for housing, utilities, insurance, or other basic needs. Up to $4,000 annually to a dance professional facing a critical health need.
Propeller Fund http://propellerfund.org – Short term financial support to artists who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Open to artists in *Chicagoland area with a practice grounded in visual arts, Propeller Impact Fund will distribute $500 unrestricted one-time grants over four rounds of applications. The $500 grants are dispersed the month following each application deadline. A total of $56,000 will be dispersed over four rounds. All eligible artists are welcome to apply with priority consideration for communities that are impacted disproportionately including: ANAANA artists (African descendant, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Native American), d/Deaf and disabled artists. LGBTQ2SIA+ artists, and gender non-conforming and non-binary artists. Selection process is done via lottery, with priority applications taken into account. Rounds:
Round one: April 22 at 9am CDT – April 25 at 5pm CDT
Round two: June 22 at 9am CDT – June 25 at 5pm CDT
Round three: August 24 at 9am CDT – August 27 at 5pm CDT
Round four: October 26 at 9am CDT – October 29 at 5pm CDT
Eligibility:
Must be individual artist grounded in visual arts
Must demostrate creative activity over the past three years
Applications must be in one of these Illinois counties: Cook, Dekalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, KanKaKee, Kendall, Lake, LaPorte, McHenry & Will
Express how you’ve impacted by COVID-19
Cannot be students enrolled in a degree program
Cannot be artists who have retained full-time jobs
Cannot be Propeller Fund grantees awarded in November 2019
Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund https://www.connect2capital.com/partners/chicago-small-business-resiliency-fund/ – $100 million fund will provide small businesses and non-profits with emergency cash flow during this health crisis. Funds will be provided to eligible businesses as low interest loans.
IFF + CRF USA Non Profits & Payroll Protection Program https://iff.org/nonprofits-the-payroll-protection-program-you-can-now-apply-through-us/ – loans for non-profits in the midwest
National Endowment for the Arts CARES Act https://www.arts.gov/grants/apply-grant/grants-organizations – Grants for organizsations supporting expemplary projects in artist communities, arts education, dance, design, folk, and traditional arts local arts agencies, media arts, museums, music, musical theater, opera, presenting and multidisciplinary works, theater, and visual arts. Projects may be large, small, existing, or new. May take place in any of the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories.
Loans for Small Businesses through CARES Act https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options – loans, debt relief, and paycheck protection for small businesses
Freelancers Union Relief Fund https://www.freelancersunion.org/resources/freelancers-relief-fund/ – financial assistance of up to $1,000 per freelance household to cover lost income and essential expenses not covered by government relief programs including: food/food supplies, utility payments, cash assistance to cover income loss
HealthWell Foundation COVID-19 Ancillary Fund https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/fund/covid-19-fund/ – assistance with costs associated with delivered food, medication, diagnostics, transportation, and telehealth as a result of COVID-19 risk or incidence. Requirements:
You or a member of your household has had a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 or
You or a member of your household are part of a high-risk group for contracting COVID-19
You are in the US of its territories or
You or a member of your household had a physician or health care provider or any other recommended self quarantine because of exposure to COVID-19
Restaurant Strong Fund https://www.restaurantstrong.org/apply-for-grant/index.html – relief fund for full time (at least 30 hours per week) restaurant workers. Requirements:
Complete application form
Full time employee (minimum of 30 hours per week, can be multiple restaurants)
Employed for 3 months at the same location
Worked at a restaurant, bar, cafe, or nightclub located in: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont
Submit 2 past full-time (30-hour) paychecks
Pen America Writer’s Emergency Fund https://pen.org/writers-emergency-fund/ – grants of $500-$1,000 based on applications that demonstrate an inability to meet an acute financial need, especially one resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. You must be a professional writer in the United States. The fund is intended to assistant fiction and non-fiction writers, poets, playwrights, screenwriters, translators, and journalists. Guidelines used in evaluating professional credentials:
Publication of one or more books
Multiple essays, short stories, or poems in literary anthologies or literary journals (either online of in-print) in the last two years.
A full-length play, performed in a theater of more than 250 seats by a professional theater company. Productions in academic settings if not a student at the time of production.
Production of a motion picture or segment of television.
Employment as a full-time professional journalist, columnist, critic, or a record of consistent publication on a freelance basis in a range of outlets during the last two years
Contracted forthcoming plays, essays, short stories, poems, or articles for which the name of the publisher can be provided.
Other applications that support the applicant’s professional identity as a writer.
Author’s League Fund https://authorsleaguefund.org/apply/ – A fund for authors in need, journalists in need, poets in need, and dramatists experiencing a medical emergency only. The fund is available to career writers with a substantial body of work in one or more of the following categories:
Book authors with at least one title published by an established traditional publisher. Authors with multiple titles are given priority.
Dramatists whose full-length plays have been produced in mid-size to large theaters and/or published by established dramatist presses.
Journalists, critics, essayists, short story writers, and poets with a substantial body of work or work in periodicals with a national or broad circulation. Whether print or online, these periodicals must have strong editorial oversight and sizable readership. This category does not include copywriting, blogging, public relations, and writing for non-periodical websites and corporate clients.
Behind the Scenes https://wp.behindthescenescharity.org/who-is-eligible-for-a-grant/ – For any behind the scenes arts workers who have been hospitilized by COVID-19. If you live in the US or Canada and have earned your living for at least five years in the entertainment technology industry. Your primary source of income is from your work in this industry, which includes being directly involved with production. Includes working companies who are directly involved in supplying entertainment technology products and services. Requirements:
Behind the scenes in any time of performance venue, or
Behind the camera, or
On the road
Crew Nation Relief Fund https://www.livenationentertainment.com/relief-fund/ – a fund to support live music crews who have been directly impacted as shows are put on pause due to COVID-19. Deadline to submit application is May 1st, 2020.
DIETL International https://www.dietl.com/art-handlers-assistance – a platform for art movers and handlers, many of which are artists themselves, to sell art. Many are unemployed because of COVID-19.
Facebook Small Business Grant Program https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/grants – a fund for small businesses struggling because of COVID-19. Requirements:
Have between 2 and 50 employees
Have been a business for over a year
Have experienced challenged due to COVID-19
Be in or near a location where Facebook operates. All cities in the US are eligible.
NPPA/NPPF COVID Relief Fund https://nppa.org/news/nppas-covid-19-resource-guide-nppa-here-you – a relief fund for photojournalists. Applications are open until April 25 at noon EDT. Only current members of NPPA, whether staff or independent can apply, who can demostrate that their primary income is from photography.
Photoville Teaching Artist Microgrant https://unitedphotoindustries.com/education/teaching-artist-microgrant/ – a grant for teaching artists, artists, and educators working in photography and visual storytelling. 20-30 teaching artists will receive between $250-500 disbursed by May 4, 2020 who:
Have lost pay due to COVID-19
Will contribute their artistic practice (storytelling, skills, knowledge, etc) to education in the coming months
MusiCares COVID-19 Fund https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/covid-19-relief-fund-faq – a fund for music industry professionals who have had cancelled work that was scheduled and lost. Up to $1,000 grants available.
Seasons of Concern https://www.seasonofconcern.org/covid – emergency assistance for any member of the Chicago theater community who is dealing with serious medical issues, including those that may result from a COVID-19 infection. Proof of testing positive for the virus is required.
SoundGirls Coronavirus Relief https://soundgirls.org/soundgirls-coronavirus-relief/ – a fund that helps production techs around the world who are now unemployed due to the coronavirus pandemic by providing a small amount of aid to purchase necessities and slightly ease stress. Requirements:
Have been working in life event production for the last three years as a primary source of income
Be able to provide two professional referrals
Employment documentation
Professional resume
Dramatists Guild Foundation Emergency Grants https://dgf.org/programs/grants/grants-for-writers/ – emergency financial assistance for individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and libretists in dire need of funds due to severe hardship or unexpected illness
The Photographer Fund https://www.format.com/photographer-fund – a fund for self-employed photographers who are facing financial hardships. Up to $500 per person
The Bret Adams and Paul Reisch Foundation https://www.bretnpaulfoundation.org – emergency assistance grants of $2500 for playwrights, composers, librettists, and lyricists, who have had a professional show cancelled, closed, or indefinitely postponed due to COVID-19
ILYSM Artists Grant https://ilysm.com – $500 weekly grant given to an artist whose main source of income has been affected by COVID-19 shutdowns. Grant offering at least through 5/14.
Postbinary Mutual Aid Project https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc7vOTp4W0_w8jyAUOmhBpnzH3fIutNMg79tk6hxcb-6gLGIQ/viewform – A voluntary exchange of services for mutual benefit
Music Health Alliance https://www.musichealthalliance.com/covid-19-resources/ – Emergency financial assistance available for music professionals who are unable to pay their basic living expenses (health insurance/food/health care) over the next two months. Up to 8 weeks ($250 per month, up to $500)
PEAR Fund https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtZ01QRAvugoh6GfWrRyMW3W83N5OjBgKjGjdO_0YQCvpsOg/viewform – A fund to assist musicians who are in dire need of financial aid due to the pandemic, where a huge amount of musicians are losing income due to relying on the gigi economy. Grants will be distributed on a first come first serve basis up to $500 per individual. Requirements:
Artists must have performed a show for Passim or taught at the School of Music in the last 10 years. This includes shows in the club, live music brunches, outdoor events & series booked by Passim, classes, and workshops in the School.
Artists must have lost income as a result of cancellations due to the COVID-19 crisis. This includes shows, tours, and teaching opportunities.
Artists must agree to participate in Passim's virtual music festival, Keep Your Distance Fest. Artists will record a video of themselves performing a song, upload it to their Youtube, and link to passim.org/PEARfund to help raise awareness & funds for the PEAR fund. Passim will add it to our Keep Your Distance playlist.
SAG-AFTRA Foundation https://sagaftra.foundation/assistance/disasterrelief/ – Emergency financial assistance for SAG-AFTRA members who are unable to pay their baisc living expenses (food/housing/health care) over the next two months.
Max’s Kansas City Project https://maxskansascity.org/emergency-grants/ – emergency funding for professionals in the creative arts in the form of grants up to $1000. You must be a professional in the creative arts. You are required to send a cover letter expressing the nature of your need with the completed application form and all necessary supporting information, including proof of monthly expense.