Disaster Recovery and Relief for Artists and Arts Organizations

Americans for the Arts

Links, tips, and tools for artists and arts organizations to prepare before an emergency.

ArtsReady

An online emergency preparedness service by and for arts and cultural nonprofits. ArtsReady helps arts organizations create customized business continuity plans for post-crisis sustainability.

CERF+

National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response

The Coalition was formed in 2006 in response to the significant losses and devastation artists and creative economies suffered after 21st-century disasters. As a voluntary task force of national, regional, state, and local arts organizations, public agencies, and foundations, the Coalition helps ensure that artists, arts and cultural organizations, cultural funders, and arts businesses have the capacity to respond effectively to disasters and emergencies affecting the arts and culture sector.

Performing Arts Readiness

The Performing Arts Readiness project was created in recognition that performing arts organizations are especially vulnerable to disasters and emergencies that can halt performances, sometimes indefinitely, and put an organization at risk. The project offers free webinars, on-site training, conference presentations, online toolkits, and other resources related to emergency preparedness.

Download sample emergency plans

Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant  

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.

American Federation of Musicians Petrillo Memorial Fund

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

American Guild of Musical Artists Relief Fund Grant

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

American Poets Fund

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.

American Society of Journalists and Authors Emergency Assistance Fund

Helps established freelance writers who, because of illness, disability, natural disaster, or an extraordinary professional crisis, are unable to work. A writer does not need to be a member of ASJA to qualify for a grant. Applications 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.

Artists At Risk Connection

A global directory of resources to help artists. Artists At Risk Connection uses an inclusive definition of artist, serving visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, performance artists, writers, and other individuals who produce significant creative output in any medium.

Artists Fellowship Financial Assistance

Provides emergency aid to professional fine 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 their livelihood as painters, sculptors, or art photographers through sales reported on a Schedule C with federal tax returns. The Board of Trustees meets monthly from September to June to review applications and determine eligibility.

Authors League Fund

Assists book authors, dramatists, poets, freelance writers, and journalists whose main professional pursuit is writing in times of emergency. The Fund helps professional writers continue their careers and 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.

Carnegie Fund for Authors

Provides grants to American authors in need of funds because of illness, natural disaster, or other qualifying emergencies.

Craft Emergency Relief Fund Emergency Assistance

CERF+ emergency assistance includes grants and brokered assistance, such as booth fee waivers, discounts, or donations of supplies and equipment. Artists interested in CERF+ emergency assistance must first complete an inquiry form. If it is determined that they may be eligible, they will be invited to apply for assistance.

CERF+ Artist Get Ready Grants

Provides funding for artists working in craft disciplines to conduct activities that help safeguard their studios, protect their careers, and implement safety measures that help artists build and sustain resilient careers. Applicants must be artists or groups of artists with an ongoing history of producing a body of work in a craft discipline and must be legal U.S. residents. Check the website for the next deadline.

The Direct Aid Fund by Lampblack

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

Diverse Books

Emergency grants for children’s book authors, illustrators, and publishing professionals with diverse backgrounds. The organization also offers awards, competitions, professional grants, mentorships, and other resources.

Dramatists Guild Emergency Grants

Provides emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and librettists in dire need of funds due to severe hardship or unexpected illness.

Entertainment Community Fund

Any performing arts or entertainment professional may contact the Entertainment Assistance Program for support, information, or referrals to community agencies. Eligibility for financial assistance requires a minimum employment history in the industry and demonstrated financial need. Amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts

Emergency grants are available by application to U.S.-based artists in all disciplines who have sudden opportunities or unexpected expenses related to presenting work to the public. Artists should apply six to eight weeks before funding is needed for last-minute support.

Hero Initiative

An emergency fund for comic creators in need. Applicants must have been working comic book writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists, or letterers on a work-for-hire basis for no less than 10 years.

International Women’s Media Foundation

IWMF supports women journalists with safety training, byline opportunities, and emergency funds, including the United States Journalism Emergency Fund, Black Journalists Therapy Relief Fund, and IWMF Emergency Fund for women journalists.

Jazz Foundation of America

Serves jazz and blues musicians who need emergency assistance and social services.

MusiCares

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

Musicians Foundation

Provides grants to U.S. musicians in any genre during a time of acute need due to personal, medical, dental, or family crisis, natural disaster, or another emergency situation.

Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants

Provides one-time grants for recent unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies to artists in financial need who are practicing in the visual arts, film, video, electronic or digital arts, and choreography.

Renaissance Entertainers Services and Crafters United Foundation

Provides financial assistance for participants of Renaissance Faires, historical performances, and other artistic events, along with advocacy, education, and prevention programs.

Rhythm & Blues Foundation

Provides support and assistance to rhythm and blues artists in need.

Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America: Emergency Medical Fund

Provides interest-free loans to members facing unexpected medical expenses. Some assistance may also be available to authors who must take a writing-related dispute to court.

You can find helpful emergency and recovery resources through the Maine Flood Resources and Assistance Hub and the Maine Emergency Management Agency.

2-1-1

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

American Red Cross

For immediate support, contact your local Red Cross chapter. You can find a local chapter by entering your zip code through the Red Cross local chapter finder.

An Arts Field Guide to Federal Disaster Relief

Published by the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response, this field guide helps demystify federal disaster relief for the arts and culture sector. It helps artists and arts organizations understand what is available, what is not available, and whether pursuing federal aid is a good use of time.

Disaster Unemployment Assistance

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.

Ready.gov

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

Recovers.org

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

Small Business Administration Disaster Loans

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 items damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster, including real estate, personal property, machinery and equipment, inventory, and business assets.

For those who have been impacted by recent weather disasters

• You or 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 understand what is available, what is not available, and whether 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 about FEMA Individual Assistance.
• Artists who have been affected may find assistance through discipline-specific organizations, including the Entertainment Community Fund, MusiCares, and Craft Emergency Relief Fund.
• Additional emergency resources for artists can be found through NCAPER. If you are in an area affected by a widespread emergency, response information is available here.