If you know of additional resources you would like us to list, please email us at soa-dean [at] emerson.edu (soa-dean[at]emerson[dot]edu).
Other Local Resources
Local Relief Funds
The Theatre Community Benevolent Fund
Will provide individual funding to active individual theater practitioners— those whose life’s work is the theater, regardless of amount of income from said work. Applicants must have an established and documented history of theatrical performance, directing, design, writing, production, or administration in Greater Boston and/or the surrounding areas and must provide documentation of specific COVID-19 losses. Operational non-profit organizations of Greater Boston and the surrounding areas are also eligible to apply for TCBF funds.
Amount
$500 - $1,500
Deadline
Rolling Deadline
Emergency Artist Relief Fund
To support artists during the COVID-19 crisis, a coalition of national arts grantmakers have come together to create an emergency initiative to offer financial and informational resources to artists across the United States. Artist Relief will distribute grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19.
Amount
$5,000
Cambridge Community Foundation Artist Relief Fund
The Cambridge Community Foundation, in partnership with the City of Cambridge is addressing the urgent need of arts and culture nonprofits, artists, and performers by taking immediate action to deploy money through the Cambridge Artist Relief Fund. Focused on lost income due to COVID-19, the Fund will provide one-time relief to arts organizations and artists who live, work, create, enable, and/or perform in Cambridge. Grants will be distributed on a first come first serve basis for as long as the fund can sustain requests. A limited number of special grants will be considered to arts nonprofits.
Amount
$200 - $1,000; up to $5,000 for nonprofit
Deadline
Rolling deadline
Boston Artist Relief Fund
The Boston Artist Relief Fund will award grants to individual artists who live in Boston whose creative practices and incomes are being adversely impacted by COVID-19. Funding can be used to offset loss of income for teaching artists who could not teach during this time because of canceled classes and school closures or for reimbursement for travel expenses related to your artistic discipline that you paid for yourself, such as conferences, touring or residencies that have been cancelled.
Amount
$500 - $1,000
Deadline
Open through June 30, 2020
The Boston Singers' Relief Fund
New England-based singers whose classical performances were cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19 are eligible to apply for emergency grants. Applicants who have not received a BSRF COVID-19 Emergency Relief grant in the past and earn at least 15% of their income through singing are eligible to apply.
Amount
Up to $500
Newton's COVID-19 Care Fund
This fund will help Newton families and individuals who live or work in Newton who have been financially impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Funding is available to assist those who are suddenly struggling to cover basic needs, such as utilities, rent/mortgage, child care, health care, or other immediate needs. Documentation of the change in income or expenses and a copy of the bill(s) of which you are requesting assistance are required.
Deadline
Rolling Deadline
The Cape Cod and Islands Major Crisis Relief Fund
The MCRF provides financial assistance to Cape Cod and Islands residents hit hard by COVID-19 to provide lost income, food, and a broad spectrum of related needs. To apply for assistance, contact MCRF [at] NeedyFund.org (MCRF[at]NeedyFund[dot]org) with a description of need.
Deadline
Rolling Deadline
Other Local Resources
Feed the Frontline
An organization that provides meals for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19.
Learn more about the organization
Fuel the Fight Boston
Inspired by the Philadelphia campaign, Fuel the Fight Boston works to raise enough money to buy food from struggling local restaurants and provide meals to healthcare workers fighting coronavirus.
If anyone would like to get involved in other ways, they can reach out to Julia Gutierrez (‘17) or on our Instagram page to nominate hospitals, restaurants, or to start a chapter in their city.
The Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
For 30 years, the Volunteers Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts has been here for the arts and cultural community when it has needed us most. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, we have assembled an emergency response panel of large law firms ready and willing to advise artists and arts organizations on contracts, insurance, and labor and employment issues that are particularly relevant and concerning during this unprecedented time.
The VLA is continuing to waive our service fees for artists and organizations suffering financial hardship due to the coronavirus. While our physical office is closed for now, we are still answering calls (617-350-7600) and vla [at] artsandbusinesscouncil.org (emails.)
Learn more about the organization
Philanthropy Massachusetts Disaster and Emergency Relief Resources
To learn more about other funds serving greater Boston and Massachusetts, Philanthropy Massachusetts has put together this resource page which will serve as an ongoing resource page for funders with ways to respond to natural disasters and other calls for emergency relief.
Unemployment Resources
National Relief Funds
Maurice Sendak Emergency Relief Fund
The Maurice Sendak Foundation has seeded a program that will provide one-time grants to children's picture book artists and writers.The program will distribute unrestricted grants to artists who have experienced financial hardship from loss of income as a direct result of the crisis. The program is open to children’s picture book artists and writers over the age of 21 in the United States and territories.
Amount
Up to $2,500
United States Artist Relief Fund
The Artist Relief fund will distribute grants to artists who have been residing and working in the U.S. for the last two years and are facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19. Eligible applicants must be able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to their work, careers, and a public audience, and must be at least 21 years of age.
Amount
$5,000
RISCA Artist Relief Fund
The Artist Relief Fund for Rhode Island art and culture workers is available to Rhode Island residents that are practicing artists, culture workers, or arts administrators who are experiencing financial hardship due to a loss of income related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Grants will be awarded and disbursed weekly and will be based on eligibility and immediate financial need. Grants will be disbursed until the fund is exhausted. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age, not currently enrolled in a degree-granting program, and capable of providing examples of creative work made, curated, or otherwise administered.
Amount
Up to $1,000
The Actors Fund
COVID-19 Emergency Relief
Further Resources
UMass AES Resource List for COVID-19
New York Foundation for the Arts
List of emergency grants
Council of Nonprofits COVID-19 Page
Resources for nonprofits
National Endowment for the Arts
COVID-19 Resources
Hyperallergic Opportunities for Artists 2020
Creative Capital Artists Resources for COVID-19 Outbreak
Artwork Archive COVID-19 Resources for Artists
Artwork Archive has gathered a list of resources in response to this global pandemic. Their business is devoted to supporting artists and helping them maintain their businesses along with their physical and mental well-being.
Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Resource Center
List of resources for individual artists and creatives as well as art and culture organizations.
