COVID-19 Artist and Creative Workforce Relief Fund
In times of crisis, our society looks to its arts and culture for healing, comfort, and inspiration. These are the moments in which arts and culture become indispensable, yet they are often the first expenses to be eliminated. As a result, our artists and creative workforce professionals are among those most impacted by job and project cancellations. Their need for financial relief is critical and immediate, and for many, receiving $500 from this fund might make the difference in being able to pay their rent.
The Fund will provide $500 financial assistance for artists and creative workforce professionals experiencing financial need including job losses, inability to pay rent or other bills, mental health services, medical care, child care assistance, and food insecurity, but not limited to these.
The COVID-19 crisis has deepened the impact of systemic inequality faced by low wealth and historically marginalized artists in the Richmond and Tri-Cities region. We know that they stand to be most affected by the closure of our gig and event economy.
This fund is intended for all professional artists and creative workforce professionals in need. In order to mitigate systemic inequalities, we will prioritize applications submitted by individuals who have historically underrepresented based on race/ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or socioeconomic status.
This Fund was created in the collaborative spirit of our arts and culture community. Our partners to date include:
1708 Gallery | Afrikana Film Festival | ART 180 | Black American Artists Alliance of Richmond | Iridian Gallery
Oakwood Arts | Studio Two Three | Visual Arts Center of Richmond
Our investors in the COVID-19 Artist and Creative Workforce Relief Fund include: Altria Group, the Community Foundation for a greater Richmond, Black American Artists Alliance of Richmond, the Fan Townhouse & Garden Club, the Mary Morton Parsons Foundation, the Peachtree Foundation, the Reynolds Foundation, Richmond Memorial Health Foundation, Studio Two Three, other foundations and supporters who choose to remain anonymous, and over 100 individual donors including local artists who auctioned their work and hosted fundraising concerts to benefit the fund.
- S
- B
- A