Covid-19 Relief Resources for Creatives

The Medford Arts Council is committed to helping Medford artists through the covid-19 epidemic. Many of us on the council are practicing artists and we have lost jobs and income as well. In order to support our arts community, we will be compiling a list of resources here. If you have an addition to the list, please email us at medfordartscouncil@gmail.com. If you are in a position to help, please consider donating to one of these resources to assist your fellow creatives. We’re in this together!

Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant - If you are seeking relief for a canceled performance or exhibition due to COVID-19 you can apply for support from the Foundation of Contemporary Arts COVID-19 Relief Fund.

Haven Foundation - The mission of The Haven Foundation is to offer interim financial assistance to freelance professionals in the arts who face crises.

Max’s Kansas City Project - 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.

Mayer Foundation grant  - The Mayer Foundation provides economic relief to individuals, make grants for organizations educational, literary, cultural, humanitarian, scientific, health-care related and other charitable purposes, and award scholarship benefits and student aid to high school, undergrad, and graduate students.

Massachusetts Small Business Recovery Loan - The Baker-Polito Administration offers economic support for small businesses with a $10 million loan fund to provide financial relief to those that have been affected by COVID-19.

Rauschenberg Emergency Grants - The program provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical emergencies. Grants are available to visual and media artists and choreographers.

Pen America - Emergency Funds for Writers List - A listing of national and regional emergency grants available to writers in acute financial crisis.

Boston Music Maker Relief Fund  - Musicians living in Boston who have experienced lost income from a performance cancelled due or related to coronavirus may apply for a $200 grant.

Artist Relief Tree  - Any artist can apply for a grant of $250. The fund has been exhausted for the moment but artists can sign up for the waitlist here to be notified when funds become available again. 

The Creator Fund - Creators can apply for grants of up to $500.

The Entertainment Assistance Program/The Actors Fund - The Actors Fund serves professionals in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio, and dance through its Entertainment Assistance Program which provides emergency financial assistance for basic living expenses or medical expenses.

AGMA Relief Fund - American Guild of Musical Artists - The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Relief Fund provides support and temporary financial assistance to members who are in need.

Equal Sound Corona Relief Fund - Musicians who have had a performance/gig cancelled due to coronavirus may apply for support. 

Gospel Music Trust - This fund provides financial assistance in the event of an emergency or major catastrophe to individuals who have derived a substantial portion of their income from the field of Gospel Music.  

International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA)  - Financial grants and loans are available to present and past professionals in bluegrass music in a time of emergency. Grants generally range from $500 to $5,000.

Jazz Foundation of America - This fund provides housing assistance, pro bono medical care, disaster relief and direct financial support for musicians in crisis.  

MusiCares - The Recording Academy and its charitable foundation MusiCares have committed $2 million in total to a COVID-19 Relief Fund, established to assist those in the music community who have been affected by the pandemic. Music industry professionals impacted by cancelled work may apply for an initial grant of up to $1,000 for basic living assistance (i.e. rent or mortgage).  People can donate and apply for assistance by navigating to the fund’s official web page.

Musicians Foundation Covid 19 Emergency Aid Grant Program  - Individuals who have worked as professional musicians for the past five years or more may apply for emergency funding. A professional musician is defined as someone whose primary source of income was or is derived from work as a musician or music educator. NOTE: As of March 22, 2020, applications are temporarily suspended. The foundation hopes to reopen applications later in the week so check back for updates.  

Patreon Artist Grant  - Patreon is providing grants to artists impacted by coronavirus.

SAG-AFTRA COVID-19 Disaster Fund - Members of SAG-AFTRA can apply for emergency funding to cover basic expenses such as rent, mortgage, utilities, medical bills and other essential needs. In order to be eligible you must be an active SAG-AFTRA member and current on your dues through October 2019.  

The Soze Agency Artist + Activist Relief Fund  - Artists who have been impacted by coronavirus can apply for grants of $250.

Sweet Relief COVID-19 Fund - Musicians or music industry workers impacted by coronavirus may apply for funds to cover medical expenses, lodging, clothing, food and other vital living expenses. Applicants must demonstrate that at least 50% of their income comes from working within the music community. Other eligibility criteria can be found at the link above. 

Boston Artist Relief Fund - The Boston Artist Relief Fund will award grants of $500 and $1,000 to individual artists WHO LIVE IN BOSTON whose creative practices and incomes are being adversely impacted by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts - 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 waiving our service fees for artists and organizations suffering financial hardship due to the coronavirus.

City of Boston Small Business Relief Fund - The City of Boston is committed to helping small businesses during this unprecedented time. Your business must have an address in the City of Boston to apply for this fund.

Anonymous is a Woman - Up to $2,500 grants available to women-identifying visual artists over the age of 40 in the United States to assist artists who are experiencing financial hardship due to lost income or opportunity as a result of COVID-19 and the subsequent economic shock.

Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund - A fund setup to support of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists AND administrators (consultants, facilitators, box office staff, seasonal/temporary employees, etc.) who have been financially impacted due to COVID-19.

Artists' Charitable Fund - Artists' Charitable Fund assists American visual fine artists (painters and sculptors) living anywhere in the United States by paying a portion of their medical / dental / eye-care bills.

Artists' Fellowship, Inc. - The Artists’ Fellowship provides emergency aid to professional visual artists and their families in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement or unexpected extreme hardship.

Authors League Fund - The Authors League Fund helps professional authors, journalists, poets, and dramatists who find themselves in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune.

Boston Foundation Covid-19 Response Fund - The COVID-19 Response Fund will award one-time operating grants on a rolling basis to non-profits whose operations in support of seniors, children, immigrants, workers and other vulnerable populations have been stressed by the outbreak.

Cerf+ - CERF+’s emergency relief grants provide immediate financial assistance to eligible artists working in craft disciplines (such as woodworkers, fiber artists, metalsmiths, glass artists, potters, and furniture makers) after career threatening emergencies.

Dramatists Guild Emergency Fund - DGF provides emergency financial assistance to individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and book writers in dire need of funds due to severe hardship or unexpected illness.

Facebook Small Business Grant - Facebook is offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits for up to 30,000 eligible small businesses in over 30 countries where we operate.

SBA Disaster Relief Loans - Federal disaster relief loans for small businesses.

Sustainable Arts Foundation - The Sustainable Arts Foundation supports artists and writers with children.

Backline - Backline is an organization that provides mental health and wellness resources of the music community. They are hosting bi-weekly Zoom calls to provide support for individuals impacted by coronavirus.  

Mental Health Resources to Help Prevent Creative and Professional Burnout - This resource from the Berkeley Extension School provides tips for identifying and preventing burnout from both the employer and creative perspective.


Instructor Resources from UMASS Amherst’s Arts Extension Service

Looking for more? The National Endowment for the Arts also has an excellent list of resources for artists and arts organizations. You can find it here.