Western-Mass Low Income Freelancer Relief

UPDATE:

After raising $10,632, the Western-Mass Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund is officially suspended. Thank you for your generous donations and for sharing this fund far and wide. Together we were able to fund 95% of our applicants with an additional $1,000 raised for the Trans Asylum Seeker Support Network.

If you need help applying for Pandemic Insurance don't hesitate to email me at [email redacted]
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UPDATE: 

Thank you for all your efforts thus far.  Together, we have raised $8,467! We have decided to keep the applications rolling and the fund open as many in the artist-freelancer world will not immediately benefit from the stimulus check and or aren't able to apply for unemployment through the standard platform. 

Thus far we have been able to provide relief to 35 individuals residing in Western-Mass. The impact of this relief fund is profound. Please keep spreading the word and sharing the donation link: https://www.gofundme.com/manage/westernmass-low-income-freelancer-fund

The next $1,000 will be donated to Western-Mass Trans Asylum Seeker Support Network. We acknowledge that everyone in need of this fund does not have the resources to apply to this fund (i.e. a computer to access the application, the community to direct said individual to the fund). We feel that this organization is working to serve marginalized communities that we aim to serve with this fund. HELP US MEET OUR GOAL. #noborders #nobinaries #nobosses

READ MORE ABOUT THIS ORGANIZATION: https://www.gazettenet.com/Asylum-seekers-in-western-Mass-part-3-33556613

THANK YOU ALL!

We Are Stronger Together. Stay Healthy. Stay Safe. Be Well. 
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Greetings Friends, 

A group of us are currently working to raise money to support low-income artists and other freelancers who are taking financial hits as a result of cancellations, closures, and lost income due to Covid-19. The intention of this fundraiser is to provide emergency and preventative resources for those at financial risk. Our government is doing little to protect our well-being and we must address this on a local level. 

This fund aims to provide support to low-income, People of Color, Trans, Non-Binary, Queer, single parent artists and freelancers whose livelihoods are being effected by this pandemic. If you don't identify with anything listed above but are in need please apply.  Whether it’s from cancelled gigs, lost jobs, or overall lack of business due to coronavirus scares, we aim to offer a grassroots approach to crowdsourcing, resources, and money.

Those that apply for funding will be awarded money ASAP.

We've created a short survey to help us prioritize those in our community most at-risk and in need. All information shared remains confidential. 

Please consider donating or sharing this fundraiser if you are unable to give at this time. 

For full transparency, Emma Ayres and team will review the surveys and withdraw and disperse the funds. Emma is building a team of consultants from within Hamden, Hampshire, and Franklin County to ensure the funds are dispersed ethically and directly.

(This fund was molded after Shawn Escarciga and Nadia Tykulsker’s NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund. Much of the language was repeated as the needs are synonymous. We thank them for their inspiration and initiative.)

CLICK HERE TO APPLY TO WESTERN-MASS LOW-INCOME ARTIST/FREELANCER RELIEF FUND APPLICATION 

Solidarity & Love,

Emma Ayres
Artist/Program Coordinator of The Shea Theater Arts Center

 Cait Simpson & Mara Penatzer
Artists/Dwellings, a women-led non-profit working to promote equitable and intentional booking practices and work to make performing arts spaces safer for artists, audiences, and entertainment workers.

Helpful Resources:

LIST OF RESOURCES FROM COVID-19 & Freelance Artists