In the wake of pandemic quarantining and social distancing, museums are closing, exhibitions are canceling, and the jobs that so many artists rely on to supplement their creative practices have suddenly dried up. We know our community is vulnerable right now—and we want to do everything we can to support you.
As Kickstarter staff works remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic to bring creative projects to life, we want to say a few things:
- You are not alone.
- Sharing knowledge shares power.
- Stay safe, informed, and away from crowds.
While we continue to encourage and help artists with live campaigns on our site, we acknowledge that the coronavirus outbreak is a crisis, and our community needs help beyond what we can offer on our platform. Because of this, we’ve built a live archive of resources for artists, from best practices for remote work to emergency grants and guidelines for nonprofits and businesses. We’ll keep adding to the list on Mondays for the immediate future—so feel free to write into art@kickstarter.com with more.
*Note: Bullets in italics are new as of March 23, 2020.
Grants and funds available sooner rather than later
- Adolph & Esther Emergency Grant: no deadline for applications
- Springboard for the Arts: for artists in Minnesota
- Artists’ Fellowship: distributes monthly
- Max’s Kansas City: no deadline for applications for artists in New York with medical expenses
- Artists’ Charitable Fund: no deadline for applications for U.S. artists with medical expenses
- Alliance of Artists Communities: emergency funds for artists accepted into or currently in a residency
- Leveler.info: Freelance/Fulltime Wealth Redistribution Fund
- CREAM TOWN: selling prints by artists affected by COVID-19
- New Orleans Business Alliance Relief Fund
- Take a free course from Yodomo on how to facilitate online webinars, Skillshares, and lectures in order to build new revenue streams
- Pick Up The Flow: ongoing resources and for-hire opportunities
- I Lost My Gig: a fund for Austin-based musicians and artists
- AGMA Relief Fund (for members only )
- The Recording Academy and MusicCares COVID-19 Relief Fund
- NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund organized by Shawn Escarciga
Grants and funds available in the medium- and long-term
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants
- Medical Emergency Grants
- NYFA Emergency Resources
- Boston Artist Relief Funds
- Writer’s Emergency Fund
- CERF+ Funds for artists with COVID-19 and in need of assistance
- Apply to exhibitions, grants, and festivals on CaFÉ
- I Care If You Listen’s ongoing database to musician and artist emergency funds
General resources
- COVID-19 & Freelance Artists
- List of Resources during COVID-19 from Creative Capital
- Coronavirus Resource Kit, with a focus on geographic regions, immunocompromised individuals, and aid relief for marginalized identities
- Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Resource and Response Center and Economic Survey
- NYS Resources for Arts and Culture Organizations re: COVID-19
- Ways of Gathering in the Age of COVID-19
- Black Girl Magik COVID-19 Global Resource Guide
- New England Foundation for the Arts COVID-19 Resources
- Actors Fund
- Dance NYC Coronavirus Preparedness Resources
- CDC on Preparing Webinars
- 3Arts’ Chicago-focused Resource page
- Artist Trust Seattle/Pacific coast-focused resource page
- Amplifier’s resources for at-home learners
- Brooklyn Arts Council COVID-19 impact survey for artists
- State of California’s resource hub, with tax information, education updates, and Heath care policies
- SheShreds Resource List: Supporting Musicians and Live Professionals During COVID-19
- 50-state guide to unemployment and paid leave during COVID-19
- Resources for Canadian artists and more on BOOOOOOOM
- Theatre resources for isolation
Legal aid
For artist-owned nonprofits and businesses
- NYC Assistance & Guidance for Businesses affected by COVID-19
- Protecting Your Nonprofit from COVID-19
- National Endowment for the Arts grant guidelines for COVID-19
- CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers
- IRS COVID-19 tax relief forms
- NADA’s ongoing petition for stronger relief and grants for art galleries, artists, and art workers
For artists working multiple jobs in the part-time, service, or remote industry
- Words of Mouth’s Interdisciplinary Remote & Remote Friendly Employers for those in search of part-time or full-time creative work. Their full website is here.
- Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
- NYC Office of Nightlife’s survey on impacted workers, freelancers, and businesses
- Artists Literacies Institute’s ongoing database of income loss for artists and freelancers
Resources from The Creative Independent
- A creative person’s guide to feeling healthy
- How to apply for grants
- How to recession-proof your creative practice
- On staying calm and centered
Ideas to pass the time
- Pitch a cancelled event of yours with CLOUD 9
- Patterns for Decentralized Organising
- Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication
- The Last Blog’s compiled list of livestreamed concerts
- Free metal livestreams
- Get paid to make Wikipedia more credible
- Go on a virtual tour
- Connect with trusted mental health & wellness professionals with Backline.care and THRIV
- Nowaday’s free livestream from Ridgewood, Queens from 8pm-midnight EST
Medical resources
If you’re looking to support other creatives
Creative work matters, and it matters that it continues to get funded now. At Kickstarter we’re working on ways to respond to the crisis and support our community. Meanwhile, if you want to help campaigns by pitching in a dollar or more, check out what’s live on our Arts section page or homepage.
Photo credit: James Baldwin by Danny Tisdale at Tisdale Studio.
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