The LGBTQ+ community is not unfamiliar with times where our resilience has been tested. And unfortunately, during times of global crisis, it is our community, along with other marginalized groups, that are disproportionately affected. As we all navigate health and safety concerns, Queer|Art understand how this time can be additionally challenging for artists and arts professionals due to coronavirus related cancellations, changes, and closures drastically changing projected income and our ability to adequately plan for the future. As an organization supporting queer artists, we have always been concerned with adapting our models of support to meet the ever-changing needs of our community. Here is a list compiled from the web of resources, opportunities, and financial relief options for artists during our current circumstances.
We will continue to update this list over the following weeks. If you are aware of a resource we should add, please fill out this form.
PAGE LAST UPDATED ON 5/18/20
General COVID-19 Resources
This is a collectivized living document compiling general resources and mutual aid nationally.
COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
This is an aggregated list of free resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines.
Creative Capital COVID-19 Arts Resources
This is a list of resources collected by Creative Capital.
Mental Health Resources
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network is a healing justice organization committed to transforming mental health for queer and trans people of color.
Free Mental Health Services for Dancers
Okay, Let’s Unpack This has compiled a list of therapists and counselors offering free mental health services to dancers and movement practitioners during the this time.
Trans Lifeline is a trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive.
The Samaritans Suicide Prevention Hotline - (212) 673-3000 provides confidential, community-based support 24 hours/7 days a week.
Legal
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA)
VLA provides legal services and webinars for artists and arts organizations.
A Know Your Rights Guide for Transgender People Navigating Covid-19
This is guide created by the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund for transgender and non-binary people who are grappling with questions related to employment, housing, health care, identification, and accessing assistance from government agencies among other issues.
Emergency Funding & Mutual Aid for Artists and Arts Organizations
General
A comprehensive list of emergency grants and resources compiled by the New York Foundation for the Arts.
Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19. This fund will remain open through September 2020.
Foundation for Contemporary Art Covid-19 Relief Fund
The Foundation for Contemporary Arts is creating a temporary fund to meet the needs of experimental artists who have been impacted by the economic fallout from postponed or canceled performances and exhibitions. Applications for this fund close on May 31st.
NYFA Tri-State Relief Fund to Support Non-Salaried Workers in the Visual Arts
The Tri-State Relief Fund to Support Non-Salaried Workers in the Visual Arts will distribute one-time unrestricted cash grants of $2,000 each to freelance, contract, or non-salaried archivists, art handlers, artist/photographer’s assistants, cataloguers, database specialists, digital assets specialists, image scanners/digitizers, and registrars. Applications will be accepted over three brief cycles, the first application cycle is from May 5 - 7, the second May 19 - 20, the third and final cycle is June 2 - 3rd.
Max Kansas City Emergency Grant
The Max’s Kansas City Project provides emergency funding & resources to professionals in the creative arts. Individuals who have made their living through their art form either professionally or personally and demonstrate a financial need for medical aid, legal aid or housing.
This is an aggregated list of resources by the NYC Government for those affected by Covid-19 in need of help and those looking to volunteer.
COVID Relief for Sex Workers in New York
This mutual aid fund gives financial support to sex workers in New York City affected by Covid-19.
NYC Low Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund
This mutual aid fund gives financial support to freelance and low income in New York City affected by Covid-19. Applications for the fund are currently closed, but will reopen pending additional funding.
Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
This mutual aid fund gives financial support to BIPOC artist and arts administrators in New York City affected by Covid-19.
The Save Small Business Fund is a grant making initiative offering $5,000 for small employers in the United States and its territories. Applications for this fund are currently closed. Linked above is a collectivized list of non-financial resources by the organization to help small businesses.
This fund provides one time grants of $250-$750 to artist and activists affected by Covid-19. Applications are currently closed, but there is a waitlist available.
The NYC COVID-19 Response & Impact Fund was created to aid nonprofit service providers struggling with the health and economic effects of the coronavirus. Applications for the fund are currently closed after granting $57 million in grants to 533 organizations. They are currently offering no-interest loans to 501(c)3 organizations made through the Nonprofit Finance Fund
Performance
This mutual aid fund provides financial support to NYC based freelance dancers affected by Covid-19.
COVID-19 Relief Fund for Dancers (Dance NYC)
The Dance NYC Relief fund provides monthly $500 grants to NYC based freelance dancers affected by Covid 19. The next application period opens on June 5th.
The Howl Emergency Life Project (HELP) provides emergency financial assistance and social service support to artists have made their career in New York City’s East Village and Lower East Side arts community with work that challenges the traditional boundaries of dance, theatre, music, multimedia and the spoken word, you may qualify for help.
Dramatist Guild Foundation Emergency Grant
DGF Emergency Grants support costs associated with healthcare, childcare, housing, disability, natural disaster relief, and other unforeseen circumstances due to Covid-19 to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and book writers.
Behind the Scenes provides financial support to entertainment production professionals who have been hospitalized with Covid-19 and is in financial need.
Relief Fund for Indie Theatre Companies
This relief fund provides one time $500 grants to small theater companies. Applications are currently closed, but will reopen pending additional funding.
Visual Art
This program will provide one-time grants of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical emergencies. The grants are available to visual and media artists and choreographers who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the United States, District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. The next application cycle opens on May 18th and close on June 15th 2020.
CERF+ Emergency Relief Fund provides funding to craft artists who have suffered from a recent, career threatening emergency, such as an illness, accident, fire or natural disaster.
Mayer Foundation
The Mayer Foundation provides economic relief grants to needy individuals who are distressed or suffering as a result of poverty, low income or lack of financial resources, including as a result of natural or civil disasters, or from temporary impoverishment, loss of employment, death or incapacity of a family wage earner or damage to home and property.Artists' Fellowship Financial Aid Program
The Artist Fellowship Financial Aid Program provides financial relief to professional artists who are dealing with immediate medical emergencies.
The Artist Charitable Fund assists painters and sculptors by paying a potion of emergency medical bills directly to medical providers.
Anonymous Was A Woman Emergency Relief Grant
No longer accepting applications. Anonymous Was A Woman is an emergency relief grant program to support artists impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The program will distribute $2,500 apiece, to artists who have experienced financial hardship from loss of income or opportunity as a direct result of the crisis.
Literature
Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund
This mutual aid fund provides financial support to QTPOC writers affected by Covid-19
PEN America will distribute grants of $500 to $1,000 to professional writers demonstrate an inability to meet an acute financial need, especially one resulting from the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Authors League Fund Provides emergency financial relief to professional writers who are experiencing an medical emergency.
Artwork by Alicia Eggert