Performing Arts
COVID-19 Resources for the Performing Arts
Updated on Feb. 2, 2021
Below is a list compiled by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Arts Program consisting of resources for arts organizations and artists contending with the impacts of COVID-19. As we become aware of additional resources, we will update this page.
Databases
- Alliance of Artists (AAC): Preparedness for Residencies Resources + Approaches
- Americans For the Arts: Coronavirus Resource and Response Center
- Art New York & Alliance of Resident Theatres: Resources for Responding to COVID-19
- Bay Area and National Relief funds collected by KQED
- Bronx Council on the Arts COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Organizations
- COVID-19 & Freelance Artists has an aggregated list of FREE resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines.
- Creative Capital: List of Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak
- National Endowment for the Arts: COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
- New England Foundation for the Arts posted a list of resources for artists and organizations based in their region (New England).
- New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): Emergency Grants
- Women Arts: Emergency Fund List and Resources
Relief Grants for Artists
- Actors Fund: Entertainment Assistance Program provides services and financial support to entertainment professionals facing personal or work-related problems. It is also a conduit for emergency financial assistance in times of pressing need or in response to catastrophic events.
- Alternate ROOTS launched The Solidarity Fund which provides financial assistance to ROOTS members experiencing financial need including – but not limited to – loss related to COVID-19, theft, natural disaster, health emergency or an inability to pay an outstanding bill.
- Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund is for US-based BIPOC artists and administrators.
- Artists Fellowship: Emergency Aid provides emergency aid to professional fine artists and their families in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement or unexpected extreme hardship. (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. Applicants are encouraged to do this early in the month. The Board does not meet in July and August.)
- Artist Relief is a national partnership between seven arts grantmakers and a consortium of foundations that offers immediate, unrestricted grants for individual artists of all disciplines, as well as other information and resources to help those in need.
- Artist + Activist Relief Fund was created by The Soze Foundation, TaskForce, and Invisible Hand, and will support artists and activists whose work has been impacted by COVID-19. They will be making $250 grants to selected applicants on an on-going basis and currently have $42,000 total for the first round of grants. (This application is closed, waiting list available.)
- The Colorado Artist Relief Fund supports artists experiencing economic distress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund is a collaboration between multiple funders and arts organizations working at state, regional and local levels.
- The Dancers Fund provides short-term financial assistance to Chicago dance professionals in times of critical health need
- Dramatists Guild Foundation - Emergency grants for writer provides emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and book writers in dire needs of funds due to severe hardship or unexpected illness.
- Foundation for Contemporary Arts (FCA): Emergency Grants Program for visual and performing artists.
- Freelancers Relief Fund: Theatre Designers has been established by Theatre Communications Group (TCG) and TheFrontOffice to provide a limited number of rapid response grants of $1,000 each for scenic, lighting, costume, sound and projection designers who have had theatre employment within January 2019 - March 2020.
- The Haven Foundation offers interim financial assistance to freelance professionals in the arts who face crises.
- Jazz Foundation of America: Musicians’ Emergency Fund provides housing assistance, pro bono medical care, disaster relief and direct financial support in times of crisis.
- Newport Festivals Foundation has established the Newport Festivals Musician Relief Fund to provide financial relief to musicians in the Folk and Jazz communities experiencing a loss of income as a result of COVID-19 through rapid micro and full grants. The focus and priority will be on artists who have played the Newport Jazz or Folk Festivals and those in the Rhode Island community. All other applications will be considered on a case by case basis.
- North Carolina Artist Relief Fund has been created to support creative individuals who have been financially impacted by gig cancellations due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Artists and arts presenters in North Carolina can apply for emergency funding.
- The Solidarity Fund 2.0 provides one-time grants to individual artists, cultural workers and small arts organizations in the U.S. South experiencing financial emergency or hardship specifically related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Applications accepted through March 11, 2021 at 12:00 pm ET.
- The Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) created an Emergency Assistance Fund to aid Members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) who are experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis.
- Theatre Community Benevolent Fund provides financial relief in a confidential, respectful manner to individual theater practitioners and non-profit theater organizations of Greater Boston and the surrounding areas, facing occurrences of a catastrophic nature including but not limited to extreme illness, devastating acts of nature, housing emergencies, vandalism, and theft, and who have limited or no resources with which to handle such events.
Relief Support for Organizations
- First Draw PPP Loan and Second Draw PPP Loan applications are currently being accepted until March 31, 2021.
- Small Business Administration's (SBA) Shuttered Venue Operators Grant has published FAQ's regarding the new $15 billion "Save Our Stages" program. Use the FAQ page to determine your eligibility and priority status as an application process has not yet been announced. You can also contact your local SBA office for guidence.
Guides for Artists & Organizations
- Applying for Grants Tool Kit by Artist Trust.
- Backstage's COVID-19 resource page has many helpful links to help actors and entertainers find financial, healthcare, and industry resources, and is constantly being updated. They also provide many additional free resources themselves, such as free workouts, webinars and tips on remote working as an entertainer.
- Fractured Atlas published "How to Transition to a Virtual Workplace Overnight," with the accompanying podcast episode "Crafting Virtual Workplaces." They’ll be adding resources specific to this topic on the Creating Virtual Workplaces tab of their website Work. Shouldn't. Suck.
- Fiscal Management Associates’ COVID-19 Response Resources includes a toolkit to help nonprofits understand and apply for the Small Business Administration’s Payment Protection Program.
- The Wallace Foundation provides resources for nonprofit financial management. There are tools and advice for planning, monitoring and addressing financial uncertainty.
Other Resources
- Americans for the Arts’ National Economic Impact Dashboard, is providing real-time data about the impact that COVID-19 is having on arts organizations across the country.
- Arts Ready: COVID-19 is an online emergency preparedness service by and for arts/cultural nonprofits, provides arts organizations with customized business continuity plans for post-crisis sustainability.
- Behind the Scenes Grant will accept applications from anyone who has been hospitalized with COVID-19 and is in financial need.
- Brooklyn Art Council: Resources for Brooklyn ArtistDance/USA posted information on how dance organizations can determine if their organization’s insurance policies allow for assistance. Dance/USA has additional resources for dance organizations posted here.
- HowlRound hosted a webinar Artists In a Time of Global Pandemic (ASL & Captioned): For US-Based Freelance Artists and Cultural Workers in all Disciplines.
- Performing Arts Alliance: Support Relief for the Dance Field Impacted by COVID-19