Like many organizations that work with the art industry, Masterpiece International has seen a sharp decline in activity in past weeks. As most museum, gallery, foundation, and private clients have suspended their exhibition programming and artwork movements, the physical world of art has been brought to a halt. This has left many art handlers, vendors, and clients without work until the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.
To help address the situation, Masterpiece is working on efforts to help artists and art handlers where it can. At Masterpiece, we pride ourselves on finding the best resources available for projects, and are leveraging that passion by compiling existing arts relief resources, art funding, and support efforts that are available.
In addition, we’ve working on a fundraiser project, so that Masterpiece can make donations to three worthy organizations that are doing major relief projects both in our industry and helping first responders. Please join us in supporting the cause here.
The proceeds will be split between Artist Relief Fund, NYFA/Rauschenberg Emergency Grants, & Gary Sinise Foundation.
Take care – and stay healthy!
Organizations with resources currently available:
– The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) has put together resources for both the industry and individuals.
– Americans for the Arts has set up a comprehensive list of funding sources and emergency relief funds.
– The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts is setting up a fund for emergency relief for artists. The website has not added additional application information at this point, but their regular funding page is located here.
– Art Handlers Alliance of New York is organizing resources and distributing information through their Facebook and Instagram accounts.
– The Art Newspaper listed information for self-employed or small business owners in the arts that may be eligible to apply for financial aid. To learn more about these emergency measures and more.
– Artist Relief, a new coalition of non-profit organizations, has set up a fund to provide grants to artists.
– Brad Lander’s office has pulled together both government and private resources for freelancers.
– San Francisco’s Center for Cultural Innovation launched an Arts Relief Program to provide grants and low-interest loans to artists and arts organizations impacted by the disease.
– Creative Capital is a non-profit arts organization that provides support to artists. They are offering direct funding and have this list of resources for artists created for this particular moment.
– Freelance Artist Resource Producing Collective has pulled together a group of listings with resources and opportunities for freelancing artists.
– Freelancers Union has established a relief fund to support freelancers impacted by COVID-19.
– Grey Art Gallery has sent their email list a list of resources.
– Hire Artists is a new platform where artists can list their services and link up with people needing resources.
– Meow Wolf, a New Mexico-based arts organization, has put together a page of resources for artists. The organization was created by, and remains staffed by, working artists who were able to quickly mobilize their staff upon closing their physical site to work towards online resources.
– Mutual Aid Hub offers a map with networks of people offering different types of assistance and help through a variety of community organizations.
– National Endowment for the Arts has created a significant list of resources available to artists during the Covid-19 crisis. Links are targeted to different communities and populations, in addition to offering direct support to artists and to organizations.
– The New Art Dealers Alliance’s petition for city relief for New York’s galleries, artists and art workers has over 11,000 signatures. To sign the petition and help our New York City arts community please visit Change.org.
– NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund is a fund set up to provide small grants by survey and application to artists in need during the crisis.
– NYFA is doing a relief auction called “Artists Supporting Artists.”
– Vera List Center for Art and Politics has put together this resource toolkit for both artists and the extended art community.
Organizations with institutional relief efforts:
– Ford Foundation is helping arts organizations with emergency funding.
– Joan Mitchell Foundation has created a list organized by region, of artist support organizations.
– The Lannan Foundation has partnered with the City of Santa Fe’s Arts and Culture Department to provide $10,000 in seed funding, as well as a $15,000 challenge grant, to the Culture Connections Coalition Artist Relief Fund posted on Hyperallergic. Those affected will be able to apply for support early April at Culture Connects Coalition.
– New York Foundation for the Arts has posted a summary of Emergency Resources available at NYFA.org and has a list specifically in response to Covid-19. Some notable resources include the Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund, Artist + Activist Relief Fund, NYC Small Business Services, & Arts Greensboro Emergency Relief Fun.
– Rauschenberg Foundation has emergency medical grants available.
Industry partner relief efforts:
– Arnoff has issued a statement and offers assistance for industry.
– Dietl is promoting artists and techs around the world who are offering art in this time of need.
– Uovo is sending links to resources to their mailing lists.
If you have additional information about available resources, please let a Masterpiece team member know. We will be happy to add them to this list.
