Disaster Recovery and Relief for Artists and Arts Organizations

For those who have been impacted by recent weather disasters:

• You/your organization may be eligible for FEMA assistance if you are located in an area designated under a presidentially-declared disaster. NCAPER has published An Arts Field Guide to Federal Disaster Relief, available free online (and by mail) in English and Spanish. The Field Guide was created to help demystify federal disaster relief for the arts and culture sector by helping artists and arts organizations see what’s available, understand clearly what isn’t available, and decide if pursuing federal aid is a good use of time.
• *NEW* Individual artists and other self-employed individuals may now be eligible for tool and equipment replacement from FEMA. Learn more here.
• Artists who’ve been affected may find assistance through a number of discipline-specific organizations, including the Entertainment Community Fund, MusiCares, and Craft Emergency Relief Fund.
• Additional emergency resources for artists can be found at www.ncaper.org; in particular, if you are in an area affected by a widespread emergency, Response Information is available here.

EMERGENCY + DISASTER FUNDS FOR ARTISTS ⇒

EMERGENCY & DISASTER PREPAREDNESS ⇒

STATE OF MAINE RESOURCES ⇒

NATIONAL DISASTER RESOURCES & INFORMATION ⇒

Provides interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Each grant is given as one-time assistance for a specific emergency, examples of which are fire, flood, or emergency medical need.

Modest assistance for disabled American Federation of Musicians members facing emergencies.

The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Relief Fund provides support and temporary financial assistance to members who are in need. AGMA contracts with The Actors Fund to administer this program nationally as well as to provide comprehensive social services. Financial assistance is available for rent, utilities, mental health and medical care, as well as other basic living expenses. Grants are made case-by-case, based on need.

The fund assists poets of demonstrated ability who are in a state of urgent financial need. Grants cannot be used to promote or otherwise enhance literary talent or reputation, and applications are not accepted. Academy Chancellors, Fellows, and prize winners must bring the circumstances of qualifying poets to the attention of the American Poets Fund committee by sending a letter of nomination, including specifics about the nominee’s current financial situation, to the Executive Director of the Academy.

Helps established freelance writers who, because of illness, disability, a natural disaster, or an extraordinary professional crisis are unable to work. A writer need not be a member of ASJA to qualify for a grant. Application should demonstrate a record of past professional nonfiction writing over a sustained period of years. Applicants do not have to live in the United States but must submit books or articles written in English.

A global directory of resources to help artists. ARC's definition of "artist" is inclusive. They serve visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, performance artists, writers, and other individuals who produce significant creative output in any medium.

Provides emergency aid to professional fine (visual) artists and their families in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement or unexpected extreme hardship. “Professional” is defined as those who make the creative arts as their livelihood as painters, sculptors, or art photographers through sales as reported on a Schedule C with Federal tax returns. Meeting monthly from September to June, the Board of Trustees reviews all applications to determine if they have been properly submitted and if they are eligible.

Assists book authors, dramatists, poets, and freelance writers and journalists, whose main professional pursuit is writing, in times of emergency. The Fund exists to help professional writers continue their careers, even their lives, with dignity by providing open-ended, interest-free, no-strings-attached loans to pay for pressing expenses. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, as they come in. Loan amounts are determined based on the applicant’s professional credentials, the severity of his or her emergency, and the Fund’s annual budget.

Grants to American authors in need of funds because of illness, natural disaster, etc.

CERF+ emergency assistance includes grants and/or brokered assistance, such as booth fee waivers and discounts or donations on supplies and equipment. Artists interested in CERF+ emergency assistance must first complete an inquiry form. If it is determined that you may be eligible for assistance, you will be invited to apply for assistance. Before filling out an emergency assistance inquiry form, carefully read through the eligibility criteria and supporting documentation requirements.

Provides funding for artists working in craft disciplines to conduct activities that will help safeguard their studios, protect their careers and implement other safety measures to help artists build and sustain strong and resilient careers. Applicant must be an artist or a group of artists with an ongoing history of producing a body of work in a craft discipline or disciplines (such as woodworkers, fiber artists, metalsmiths, glass potters, furniture makers, cultural-based craft, or alternative craft), and be a legal U.S. resident. Check website for next deadline.

Every other week, Lampblack will give up to $100 to a Black poet, storyteller, or essayist in need.

Emergency grants for children’s book authors and/or illustrators and publishing professionals with diverse backgrounds. Awards and competitions, professional grants and mentorships, and more.

It is vital to support writers in times of need so that they can get back to doing what they do best. DGF provides emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists in dire need of funds due to severe hardship or unexpected illness. If you are a writer in need, we can help.

Any performing arts or entertainment professional may call on the Entertainment Assistance Program for support, information or referrals to community agencies. Eligibility for financial assistance requires either a minimum of five years of industry paid employment (earnings of at least $6,500 for three out of the last five years), or 20 years of industry paid employment (minimum of ten years of earnings of at least $5,000 for each of those years), and demonstrated financial need. Amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Emergency Grants ($500-$3,000) are available by application to U.S.-based artists in all disciplines who have sudden opportunities or unexpected expenses to present work to the public. Artists should apply 6-8 weeks before funding is needed for last-minute support.

An emergency fund for comic creators in need. An applicant must have been a working comic book writer, penciler, inker, colorist, or letterer on a work-for-hire basis for no less than 10 years.

IWMF supports women journalists with safety training, byline opportunities, and three emergency funds: United States Journalism Emergency Fund for all genders, including male identifying; Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund; and IWMF Emergency Fund for women journalists.

Serving jazz and blues musicians requiring emergency assistance and social services.

Provides assistance to musicians including musical instrument replacement for musicians affected by disasters.

$500-$3,000 grants to U.S. musicians in any genre in a time of acute need due to personal, medical, dental, or family crisis; natural disaster; or other emergency situation.

This program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are practicing in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, and choreography.

Financial assistance for participants of Renaissance Faires, historical performances, and other artistic events, along with advocacy, education, and preventative programs.

Modest assistance for disabled American Federation of Musicians members facing emergencies.

Interest-free loans to members facing unexpected medical expenses. Some assistance available to authors who must take a writing-related dispute to court.

Links, tips, and tools for artists and arts organizations to be prepared on the front end of an emergency.

An online emergency preparedness service by and for arts/cultural nonprofits, provides arts organizations with customized business continuity plans for post-crisis sustainability.

Studio Protector  ⇒
 
An artists guide to emergencies. A wealth of information on emergency readiness for all artists can be found at www.studioprotector.org.

Cultural Placekeeping Guide  ⇒
 
How to create a network for local emergency action —for arts agencies, arts and culture organizations, and artists.

The Performing Arts Readiness project was formed in the recognition that performing arts organizations are especially vulnerable to disasters and emergencies which can halt performances, sometimes indefinitely, and can put an organization out of business overnight. The Performing Arts Readiness project offers free webinars, on-site training, and presentations at professional conferences on various topics related to emergency preparedness, as well as online toolkits and more.

Download their Sample Emergency Plans⇒

You can find helpful resources on the Maine Flood Resources And Assistance Hub website and the Maine Emergency Management Agency website.

Call 2-1-1 to be connected with health and human services in your area, providing services like food banks, clothing closets, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance and physical and mental health resources.

For immediate support, contact your local Red Cross chapter, which can be found by entering your zipcode here ⇒.

Shelter  ⇒
 
The Red Cross “Find Shelter” tool pulls information from the National Shelter System and allows people to view a Google map of open Red Cross shelter locations and search for shelters closest to their location. Shelters that are currently open will be displayed on the map or in the search results..

Safe and Well List  ⇒
 
The American Red Cross has provided a way for those affected by a disaster to register as safe and well, and for concerned family and friends to search for the status of their loved ones.

Disaster and Safety Library  ⇒
 
a variety of safety guides for different types of disasters.

Published by the National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER), this field guide was created to help demystify federal disaster relief for the arts and culture sector by helping artists and arts organizations see what’s available, understand clearly what isn’t available, and decide if pursuing federal aid is a good use of time. The top programs of use to artists and arts organizations have been selected for inclusion.

Information on disaster unemployment assistance, which provides unemployment benefits to individuals whose employment or self-employment has been lost or interrupted as a direct result of a major disaster declared by the President of the United States.

Detailed guides on what to do before, during, and after specific emergency situations, compiled by FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security.

A website with local hubs for emergency recovery, including resource, assistance requests, and volunteer/donation opportunities.

provides low-interest disaster loans to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and most private nonprofit organizations. SBA disaster loans can be used to repair or replace the following items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster: real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, and inventory and business assets.