The COVID-19 Crisis: Here Are Resources For Visual Artists From Harlem To Hollywood

In the wake of pandemic quarantining and social distancing, museums are closing, exhibitions are canceling, and the jobs that so many artists rely on to supplement their creative practices have suddenly dried up. We know our community is vulnerable right now—and we want to do everything we can to support you.

As Kickstarter staff works remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic to bring creative projects to life, we want to say a few things:

You are not alone.
Sharing knowledge shares power.
Stay safe, informed, and away from crowds.

While we continue to encourage and help artists with live campaigns on our site, we acknowledge that the coronavirus outbreak is a crisis, and our community needs help beyond what we can offer on our platform. Because of this, we’ve built a live archive of resources for artists, from best practices for remote work to emergency grants and guidelines for nonprofits and businesses. We’ll keep adding to the list on Mondays for the immediate future—so feel free to write into art@kickstarter.com with more.

*Note: Bullets in italics are new as of March 23, 2020.

Grants and funds available sooner rather than later

Adolph & Esther Emergency Grant: no deadline for applications
Springboard for the Arts: for artists in Minnesota
Artists’ Fellowship: distributes monthly
Max’s Kansas City: no deadline for applications for artists in New York with medical expenses
Artists’ Charitable Fund: no deadline for applications for U.S. artists with medical expenses
Alliance of Artists Communities: emergency funds for artists accepted into or currently in a residency
Leveler.info: Freelance/Fulltime Wealth Redistribution Fund
CREAM TOWN: selling prints by artists affected by COVID-19
New Orleans Business Alliance Relief Fund
Take a free course from Yodomo on how to facilitate online webinars, Skillshares, and lectures in order to build new revenue streams
Pick Up The Flow: ongoing resources and for-hire opportunities
I Lost My Gig: a fund for Austin-based musicians and artists
AGMA Relief Fund (for members only )
The Recording Academy and MusicCares COVID-19 Relief Fund
NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund organized by Shawn Escarciga

Grants and funds available in the medium- and long-term

Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants
Medical Emergency Grants
NYFA Emergency Resources
Boston Artist Relief Funds
Writer’s Emergency Fund
CERF+ Funds for artists with COVID-19 and in need of assistance
Apply to exhibitions, grants, and festivals on CaFÉ
I Care If You Listen’s ongoing database to musician and artist emergency funds

General resources

COVID-19 & Freelance Artists
List of Resources during COVID-19 from Creative Capital
Coronavirus Resource Kit, with a focus on geographic regions, immunocompromised individuals, and aid relief for marginalized identities
Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Resource and Response Center and Economic Survey
NYS Resources for Arts and Culture Organizations re: COVID-19
Ways of Gathering in the Age of COVID-19
Black Girl Magik COVID-19 Global Resource Guide
New England Foundation for the Arts COVID-19 Resources
Actors Fund
Dance NYC Coronavirus Preparedness Resources
CDC on Preparing Webinars
3Arts’ Chicago-focused Resource page
Artist Trust Seattle/Pacific coast-focused resource page
Amplifier’s resources for at-home learners
Brooklyn Arts Council COVID-19 impact survey for artists
State of California’s resource hub, with tax information, education updates, and Heath care policies
SheShreds Resource List: Supporting Musicians and Live Professionals During COVID-19
50-state guide to unemployment and paid leave during COVID-19
Resources for Canadian artists and more on BOOOOOOOM
Theatre resources for isolation

Legal aid

For artist-owned nonprofits and businesses

NYC Assistance & Guidance for Businesses affected by COVID-19
Protecting Your Nonprofit from COVID-19
National Endowment for the Arts grant guidelines for COVID-19
CDC Guidance for Businesses and Employers
IRS COVID-19 tax relief forms
NADA’s ongoing petition for stronger relief and grants for art galleries, artists, and art workers

For artists working multiple jobs in the part-time, service, or remote industry

Words of Mouth’s Interdisciplinary Remote & Remote Friendly Employers for those in search of part-time or full-time creative work. Their full website is here.
Bartender Emergency Assistance Program
NYC Office of Nightlife’s survey on impacted workers, freelancers, and businesses
Artists Literacies Institute’s ongoing database of income loss for artists and freelancers

Resources from The Creative Independent

Ideas to pass the time

Find your domain and create your site at Weebly.com!

Pitch a cancelled event of yours with CLOUD 9
Patterns for Decentralized Organising
Decolonizing Non-Violent Communication
The Last Blog’s compiled list of livestreamed concerts
Free metal livestreams
Get paid to make Wikipedia more credible
Go on a virtual tour
Connect with trusted mental health & wellness professionals with Backline.care and THRIV
Nowaday’s free livestream from Ridgewood, Queens from 8pm-midnight EST

Medical resources

If you’re looking to support other creatives

Creative work matters, and it matters that it continues to get funded now. At Kickstarter we’re working on ways to respond to the crisis and support our community. Meanwhile, if you want to help campaigns by pitching in a dollar or more, check out what’s live on our Arts section page or homepage.

Photo credit: James Baldwin by Danny Tisdale at Tisdale Studio.