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Arlington Arts

COVID-19 Artist Resources

Arlington Arts is pro-actively looking out for resources to assist arts organizations, arts administrators and individual artists impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The information below is to keep our artistic community updated on current resources available to assist you through the pandemic. Updates will be provided as new resources become available.

Do you have a resource that isn’t listed? Share it with us via email at arts@arlingtonva.us.

Do you want to learn to make your own face mask? We’ve compiled a list of patterns and tutorials so you can choose a design based on your sewing skill level and the materials you have at home.

Last updated: October 1, 2020

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General Resources
Resources for Artists
Resources for Arts Organizations

Quick Reference Key

  • Reopening
  • Surveys, data
  • Funding
  • Webinars, online interactive content
  • Working online, technology
  • Community engagement and programming
  • Informational resources
  • Tools
  • Resources for educators
  • Consultations with experts
  • Self-care and well-being

General Resources

 

Resources for Artists

  • Best audio settings/setup for Zoom Dance Class, from Dance Tech with JHsu
    •     YouTube tutorial about audio settings, set-up, and equipment when teaching a dance class using Zoom
  • Artists Sustaining Artists Fund: Relief grants for emerging artists based in Washington, DC, from Transformer
    •     Transformer will provide need-based, unrestricted relief grants of $500 to 20 emerging artists in DC experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic.
    • Applications will become available on June 24, and relief grant funds will be distributed to selected artists beginning July 13
  • Artist Relief: 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.
    •     $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19. Running through September 2020. A practicing artist is broadly defined as:
      • Individuals making a living from their work, independently OR commercially
      • Anyone whose livelihood and/or community depends upon the ability to make, exhibit, perform, publish, or sell artwork
      • Culture bearers or community organizers who self-define as artists
    •     Ongoing informational resource
    •     The COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists.
  • COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources, a crowd-sourced resource list administered by arts leaders and administrators, designed to serve freelance artists and those interested in supporting the independent artist community
    • General Preparedness Resources
    • Advocacy & Legal Information
    •     Emergency Funding
      • National grants/relief funds for nonprofit organizations and unions
      • National crowdfunding and collective action efforts
      • Local grants/relief funds from nonprofit organizations, unions, and local arts councils
      • Local crowdfunding and collective action efforts
      • Interest-free loans
    • Quantifying Economic Impact
    •       Best Practices for Online Teaching, Learning, and Gathering
    • Online Platforms for Sharing, Meeting & Broad/Narrowcasting
    •       Digital Tools to Manage Your Creative Practice
    •       Health and Mental Health Resources
    • Temporary/Remote Job Opportunities
  • Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak from Creative Capital
    • A list of resources for artists working in all disciplines, as well as arts philanthropists, and arts professionals.
  • Resource Guide for Music Professionals Who Need Help During Coronavirus Crisis (Updating) from Billboard
    • National and state level resources for music and entertainment professionals
  • theatreWashington Establishes COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund for Washington Theater Community
    •     Any theater professional currently residing in and who has actively worked in the Washington metropolitan area within the past two years is eligible to apply for emergency relief. During the COVID-19 crisis, theatreWashington will be awarding $500 grants to at least 200 people financially affected by this event. The grants will be awarded on a rolling basis.
  • Adapt. Advocate. Support. WPA Takes Action for Artists from the Washington Project for the Arts
    •     Wherewithal Grants (Funding source for public-facing alternative and experimental visual art projects inside the nation’s beltway): WPA is accelerating the timeline for first payments to be in September 2020 and modifying the nature of the grants from projects to research, thereby putting a greater percentage of money in artists’ pockets.
      • Recovery Grants: Wherewithal Recovery Grants are intended to help offset lost income from cancelled exhibitions, performances, or lectures, and from canceled or furloughed employment, that are the direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deadline passed.
      • Research Grants: Wherewithal Research Grants provide project-based support for research, presentation, or critical reflection. The application portal opens Tuesday, June 23, 2020 and the deadline is Sunday, August 23, 2020.
    • Artist-Organizer Residency at WPA: WPA is offering project space to an artist-organizer/artist-curator from mid-October through early January. In addition to the space, the residency will include a $1,000 stipend. Deadline: Monday, October 19 at 11:59pm.
    •     Take a survey to submit data and anecdotes on the impact of COVID-19 on visual artists
  • COVID-19 Artist Resources + Funding from Forecast Public Art
    •     Emergency Relief, Grants + Funding links
    • Further Funding + Extensive Resource Lists Compiled by Others
  • COVID-19 Resources for Artists from Meow Wolf
    •     Know Your Rights – helpful information about new and expanded benefits for people affected by this crisis, including, funding, unemployment benefits, free smartphone data, specific affordable internet packages, and more
    • Ways to advocate for the artist community
    •     Comprehensive list of funding sources and efforts on the local, national, and international level
  • What the CARES Act Means for Freelancers from the Freelancers Union
    •     What freelancers can expect to receive in terms of financial relief under this new law
  • COVID-19 Resources for Artists from Artwork Archive
  • FCA Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund from Foundation for Contemporary Arts
    •     One-time $2,000 emergency grants for experimental artists who have been impacted by the economic fallout from postponed or canceled performances and exhibitions. Runs through December 1, 2020.
  • Art is Alive is a solidarity effort aimed at providing resources, spreading awareness and building connectedness within the artistic and creative freelance communities impacted by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Resources for Arts Organizations

  • Arts Forward Fund from the Greater Washington Community Foundation
    •     Funding will provide resources for capacity-building, training, and innovation to help arts and culture organizations continue their essential role in our communities. Grants will typically range from $10,000 to $50,000. Due date is August 27, 2020.
    • Eligible applicants include arts and culture non-profit organizations. Organizations working across all artistic disciplines, including visual and performing arts, are eligible to apply, as are youth development organizations with an arts focus, arts education organizations, and grassroots arts organizations working for racial and social justice.
  • Rebuild VA! from the Commonwealth of Virginia
    •     Small business and non-profits may receive up to 3 times their average monthly eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $10,000. Application will be available beginning August 10, 2020. Webinars about how to apply will be held on July 31 and August 4.
  • Foundation Directory Online Essentials from the Arlington Public Library
    •     Until August 31, 2020, the Arlington Public Library is offering free access without a library card to the Foundation Directory Online (FDO) Essentials. This tool can help you to find grantmakers and nonprofit funders. To access this online tool, please visit library.arlingtonva.us, then using the “Research” menu heading, select “Research Tools A-Z” and then search for “Foundation Directory Online Essentials”.
  • Roadmap for Recovery and Resilience for Theater from American Repertory Theater at Harvard University, created jointly with the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
    •     Facilities: Ventilation, cleaning, no-contact infrastructure, etc.
    • Screening and testing protocols for theaters, PPE for staff, and more
    • Rehearsal and production strategies to minimizing risk
    • Audience: communications, box office procedures, and more
    • Pivoting to models that are new or different, e.g. online, outdoor
  • Reopening Resources: Ideas from the Field for Colorado Arts & Culture from Colorado Creative Industries
    • Please note: Arlington and Virginia may have some different policies and regulations than detailed in this document.  Make sure to follow the Forward Virginia regulations for social distancing and mask coverings.
    •     This living document provides examples and recommendations to help inform your plan for reopening to the public.
  • COVID-19 Business Support from Arlington Economic Development
  • BizlLaunch Webinars, Services and Additional Community Resources [En Español] from Bizlaunch, Arlington’s Small Business and Entrepreneurial Assistance Network
    •     Recorded and upcoming webinars
    •     Sign up for a virtual appointment with a small business expert to help strategize during the pandemic
  • SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to DMW Small Businesses and Nonprofits from the U.S Small Business Administration (SBA)
    •     Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expense which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.
    • Assistance available in the entire state of Virginia, the District of Columbia, and in Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Somerset, Washington and Worcester in Maryland.
  • DeVos Institute Invites Applications for Pro Bono Consultation from Any U.S. Based Arts Organization
    •     One hour free consultation, and follow-up consultations may be available. Particular topics for the consultation may include:
      • Reviewing strategies for maintaining visibility and relevance during a temporary decrease or cessation of activity
      • Communicating need to donors and funders
      • Discussing approaches for short-term revenue development and fundraising
      • Developing strategies for maintaining the productivity of boards and staff members
  • Educational Opportunities and Articles for Nonprofit Leaders from Capacity Partners, consultants to nonprofit leaders
    •     Webinars
    • General and Government Resources
    • Fundraising
    • Board Development
    • Management and Leadership
    •     Special Grants and Loans – many for the DMV area!
    •     Self-Care During this Crisis
  • COVID-19 Preparedness for Residencies Resources + Approaches from the Alliance of Artists Communities (AAC)
  • Webinar: Washington Performing Arts’ Virtual Gala Transformation-Lessons Learned from a 3-Day Pivot
    •     Video recording of webinar: Learn how Washington Performing Arts and its partnering consultants and vendors transformed a 600-attendee in-person Gala into a virtual livestream in three days via an interactive discussion and Q & A with more than 280 participants from around the country.
  • COVID-19 Response from the American Association of Community Theatre (AACT)
    • Production-Related Resources: obtaining rights for live streaming, links to publishers’ messages on postponements, cancellations, etc.
    • Communications Management: sample announcements, crisis communications guides
  • COVID-19 Resource List for Theatre Practitioners from the Southeastern Theatre Conference (SETC)
    •     Daily relevant webinar links
    • Online Groups and Forums
    •       Professor and Teaching Resources
    • Student Resources
    •     Video, Audio, and Podcast Media links
    •     Funding, both general artists and theatre specific
  • ArtsReady, an online emergency preparedness service by and for arts/cultural nonprofits, provides arts organizations with customized business continuity plans for post-crisis sustainability (field partner of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP))
    •     Sign up for a free basic membership to receive updates and access to the library
    •     Links to upcoming webinars, information and emergency funding for artists, communications plans, and more
  • Performing Arts Readiness Webinars, the Performing Arts Readiness project offers free webinars, on-site training, and presentations at professional conferences on various topics related to emergency preparedness (field partner of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP))
    •     Recording of past webinars related to emergency preparedness