By Polina Smith
Artists are the heartbeat of the vibrant and dynamic culture of the Bay Area. From Rhodessa Jones and The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women, who put stories, too often untold, on stage, to the breathtaking collection at the SFMOMA and the eye-opening socio-political exhibits at YBCA, the Bay Area is a mecca of cutting edge culture because of our artists.
A member of The Medea Project by Tumay Aslay.
When it comes to the current conditions in the world surrounding the Coronavirus pandemic, everyone is appropriately giving their attention to washing their hands, flattening the curve, and keeping their distance. This shift in focus - and the new requirement to ‘shelter in place’ - leaves artists in a time of need, both to showcase their creativity and to continue earning an income.
But, if there is one thing that artists excel at, it’s creativity! Evidence of this was the Weird-Stream-a-Thon, which took place as an online alternative for those who were supposed to attend South by Southwest (SXSW). The live event was canceled due to COVID-19, yet the performers live-streamed their performances. The purpose was to raise funds for creatives who were impacted by cancellations.
A Colombian writer and performance artist Juliana Delgado Lopera by Tumay Aslay
As a consumer, there are many ways to help support creatives. Support their Patreon pages, start your Christmas shopping early or buy gift certificates to use in the future. If you are in financial distress, you can do a few things that cost nothing but your time. Share their work on Facebook, like and comment on their Instagram posts, or write them a note of encouragement.
If you are considered a creative, there is help - and hope. It’s at times like these when communities and organizations rally to help others. And with the orders to stay at home, most of this help is found on the Internet. Here are a few helpful resources to check out during this time.
Mayor London Breed Announces Art Relief Program- On March 23rd, San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced an Arts Relief Program that will provide $2.5 million in grants and low-interest loans to working artists and cultural organizations. Check out the full article HERE and follow the Mayor for updates!
The Safety Net Fund - Specifically for artists that reside in the Bay Area, this fund has been set up for those who are enduring hardship due to closings and cancellations during the COVID-19 crisis, which has affected many live performances and creative events. Head to their website to see if you are eligible for their maximum of $500/month per person. Qualifications include living within specific Bay Area zip codes and not being eligible for unemployment. If you are not an artist, you can help increase the amount of funding by donating towards this campaign.
The Creator Fund - If you are considered a creator, then you may be eligible for part of the $50,000 that ConvertKit is offering up to those in the creative community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds are available for childcare, groceries, medical, and housing. There is a series of questions you must answer, but qualified applicants can receive one-time assistance of up to $500 to aid with necessities. Head to their site to read more about The Creator Fund.
Musicians Foundation - Musicians living in the US that are in acute need can fill out an application to receive aid. It includes any genre of music. To be eligible for funds, you must have had music be your primary source of income for the past five years. If you are curious if you meet the requirements, check out their site here.
CERF+ The Artists Safety Net - Reserved for “career-threatening emergencies,” the Craft Emergency Relief Fund offers assistance through their safety net for artists. There are criteria to receive funds, and they ask that you review their eligibility requirements before filling out the form. Another point of note is that these funds are designated for makers and those who handcraft items.
We are living in a different age suddenly, but the good news is that people want to help! Organizations and individuals sense the needs of creatives, and new programs are continuing to pop up. To keep updated on these and other resources for artists, head to Creative Capital’s list of artist resources, the CBCA site, or the COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources page. No matter what, keep pressing on in thinking of creative ways to pepper our world with color. We all need it now more than ever!
Polina Smith is the Executive Director of Crescent Moon Theater Productions creating original, thought provoking new work that spans across the disciplines of theater, dance, music and circus. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Inquiry from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Smith is an art event producer for Bioneers and Seismic Sisters.
Photography by Tumay Aslay.