COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Creative Freelancers

Update: 15 January 2021

We have not encountered any new emergency funds and/or resources for artists and creative freelancers.

We recommend taking a look at the list below and seeing which organizations may have additional funding rounds for the 2021 fiscal year.

For MN Artists, please check out Springboard for the Arts Coronavirus Resource page.

For MN residents, please check the State of Minnesota unemployment site.

For CA residents, please check the State of California unemployment site.

For NY residents, please check the State of New York unemployment site.

Links to Emergency Funds

Last updated 20 May 2020

Please note that this is a compilation. We will be updating as we find more links. Please read and perform due diligence when applying.

Hennepin County Small Business Relief for Self-Employed Entrepreneurs — It is open but will close on May 19, 2020. Up to $3,000. Most be located within Hennepin County in Minnesota.

Outfront Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ COVID-19 Relief Fund - Due 5/31. $250-$2,500. Must be located in Minnesota.

Artist Rescue Trust - $1,500. For artists who are unable to get unemployment benefits. National. For anyone who can provide a W9 and SSN or TIN.

FilmNorth’s Minnesota Film Community Emergency Relief Fund Application - $500 emergency grant for Minnesota based filmmakers and crew members provided by FilmNorth.

Artist Relief — $5,000 grants to artists of all disciplines. Americans for the Arts, Creative Capital, and a bunch of other orgs have teamed up create this fund. You have to be US-Based (citizenship is not a factor) and are experiencing dire financial needs. If eligible, you will be placed in a lottery. 100 artists will be chosen per cycle, 5 cycles.

Entertainment Industry Relief Fund - $500 for Minnesotan based musicians. Provided by the Twin Cities Music Community Trust.

Field of Vision: Documentary Freelancer Relief Fund - Unrestricted up to $2,000. Next cycle is May 6-May 8.

William Greaves Fund - nonfiction filmmakers of color from racially and ethnically underrepresented communities in the United Sates as well as Mexico, Brasil, Puerto Rico, and Columbia. Due May 14.

COVID-19 Emergency Health Grant for Artists - up to $1,000 for Southern Californian artists who identify has a woman, trans or nonbinary, POC.

The Opportunity Agenda Creative Change COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Stipends for Artists & Cultural Strategists — artists and freelance cultural strategists pursuing social justice objective through their work are eligible to receive $1,000 in emergency funds. Must be US-based.

Forecast Public Art Messages of Hope MiniGrants - 20 Minnesotan or Native Artists will receive an immediate $500 mini-grant to create a message of hope. Round 1 for this quick app is due on Wednesday, April 8, 9 PM CT. This is a trusted resource.

Bagri Foundation “At Home in the World” Mini Grant - 5 Artists from Asia or the Asian Diaspora will receive £1,000 GBP to create a work of art. This app is due on April 17 at 17:00 GMT.

Springboard for the Arts Personal Emergency Relief Fund - up to $500, this is a trusted resource. Minnesota Only.

Springboard for the Arts Emergency Relief Fund Resources — this is a list Springboard has compiled. Includes resources for State of Minnesota, national, and international artists. I would check this list regularly, they are updating very frequently.

COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources - compilation of funds and resources. National and International.

Creative Capital Artist Resources - compilation of funds and resources. National and International.

Arts Administrators of Color Network’s Relief Fund - up to $200. Appears to be national.

Mn Artists — this is a link to the resources that Mn Artists have provided. Includes resources for State of Minnesota, national, and international artists.

Artist + Activist Relief Fund - up to $250. Appears to be national.

FilmNorth — a list of resources. Includes resources for State of Minnesota, national, and international artists.

Los Angeles Freelancers Relief Fund - LA only.

The Martin Stand-Up Comedy Emergency Grant - will grant 10 $1,000 emergency grants on a rolling basis. Appears to be national.

Format’s Photographer Emergency Fund. Appears to be national.

Pen America Writers’ Emergency Fund - writers of all disciplines, $500 or $1,000, needs to have publishing and production history. National.

Anonymous Was A Woman - in partnership with New York Foundation for the Arts. Up to $2,500 out of a total pool of $250,000, must be a female-identifying visual artist age 40 and up. Opens 4/6/2020 closes 4/8/2020. National.

Women Photograph - up to $500 for professional female and non-binary photographers. Closes 4/3/2020. National.

American Documentary - up to $500 per documentary filmmaker suffering loss of income from COVID-19. Rolling. National.

Metropolitan Regional Arts Council - up to $2,500 for small arts groups and organizations located within the 7-country Twin Cities metro area in Minnesota. Rolling deadline.

Poets & Writers - list of emergency fund grants.

Verizon and LISC 10K Emergency Grants for Small Businesses - this is for small businesses including LLCs who are struggling to pay their employees, rent, etc. Specifically noted that this grant is for “entrepreneurs of color, women-owned businesses and other enterprises in historically underserved communities who don’t have access to flexible, affordable capital.” The first round is due 4/4/2020 at 11:59 PM EST, but they are still accepting applications past this deadline for Round 2.

Hello Alice - 10K All Emergency Grants for small businesses, they have noted that they will pay special attention on your application if you are a part of the “New Majority” which includes women, People of Color, LGBTQIA, veterans, and persons with disabilities.