Anew grant for artists whose livelihood is affected by the coronavirus opened today. According to an email newsletter from United States Artists, a national arts grantmaking group, the grant is administered by a coalition of foundations: Academy of American Poets, Artadia, Creative Capital, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, MAP Fund, National YoungArts Foundation, and United States Artists. This fund, simply called “Artist Relief,” launched with $10 million, including $5 million in seed funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, matched with $5 million in contributions from additional foundations.

To apply, artists must:

  • Have a track record of professional work
  • Be in dire financial need due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Be 21 or over
  • Be legally able to receive taxable income in the U.S.
  • Have been living and working in the U.S. for the last two years
  • Not be a full-time employee, board member, director, officer, or immediate family member of any of the coalition partners
  • Not have received a relief grant from this fund

According to the application site, Artist Relief will distribute grants in the amount of $5,000 through September 2020, to at least 100 artists per week. The application will be open in cycles based on these dates:

  • Cycle I: April 8 – April 23 (closes 11:59pm ET)
  • Cycle II: April 24 – May 21 (closes 11:59pm ET)
  • Cycle III: May 22 – June 18 (closes 11:59pm ET)
  • Cycle IV: June 19 – July 23 (closes 11:59pm ET)
  • Cycle V: July 24 – August 20 (closes 11:59pm ET)

The application is here.

Donate to United States Artists here.

Posted by Kris Vagner

Kris Vagner is Double Scoop’s Editor & Publisher.