Columbus Artists Relief Fund COVID-19/Coronavirus

<<First and foremost thank you to Ijeoma Oluo for her inspiration and guidance. You can support Ijeoma’s beloved Seattle arts community here >>


I’ve worked in the music industry in Columbus for over 25 years. Most of my friends are musicians so I am seeing in real time the hardship that is just beginning to hit our community. Event cancellations, ticket refunds, small crowds, canceled tours. Everything is very uncertain right now and it will get worse before it gets better.

Columbus has a vibrant independent arts scene backed by a supportive city. But being an independent artist also often means investing everything you have into your career, living month to month, working odd jobs where the advantage is flexibility - not benefits. Many artists I know support their dreams with day gigs in the service industry (bartending, waiting tables, retail) - which is also going to take a massive hit as people stay home more.

If you are a supporter of artists in Columbus please know they need your support now more than ever.

We’re raising money to help offset the financial impact felt by Columbus artists through lost work. Gig money that was going toward this month’s rent or next month's taxes, the gas bill, food. This is open to individual artists only. ALL of the funds raised will go directly to artists in central Ohio. Priority will be given to BIPOC artists, transgender & nonbinary artists, and disabled artists - but the goal is to try to help as many artists with need in Columbus as possible.

If you are an artist that has lost work because of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic please fill out this survey completely. (Updated 7/24/20: Applications are now closed)

We need some big support to make this meaningful. Please share with your friends, your fans, your clients. The more money we raise, the longer we can keep this going, the more we can support the Columbus arts community through this difficult time.

We get by with a little help from our friends.