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Emergency Relief 2017

September 28, 2017  •  6 minute read

2017 has been one of the most disastrous years concerning weather related events in U.S. history. Recovery efforts and assessment in the continental U.S. and its territories including Puerto Rico and the U.S Virgin Islands are ongoing. As families, nonprofits and businesses continue to rebuild their lives, we know the road to recovery will be challenging. The NPN/VAN staff and Board of Directors along with other national and regional arts service organizations, state agencies, and funders are collectively supporting our colleagues and individual artists during their time of need now and in the future. We will continue to post updates on recovery efforts and links to resources. Information is listed in separate categories for Artists, Arts Organizations and To Make A Donation.

RESOURCES FOR ARTISTS

The Actors Fund has emergency financial assistance and resources available to everyone who works in performing arts (actors, dancers, musicians, stagehands, playwrights, tech crew, and many more). For information regarding the Entertainment Assistance Program visit: www.actorsfund.org/GetHelp

Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grants
The Foundation provides grants to tenured professional visual artists working in the disciplines of painting, sculpture, or printmaking. The maximum amount of this grant is $15,000; an award of $5,000 is typical.
www.gottliebfoundation.org/emergency-grant/

Ambulantes.com
A blog providing up-to-date information on Puerto Rico and how to help.
www.losambulantes.com/help-puerto-rico/

Alliance for Artists Communities – Emergency Relief Programs
In the event of a natural disaster, the Alliance contacts its network of more than 150 residency programs to identify immediate and short-term availability of residencies. They work with affected artists (painter or sculptor) to take advantage of these residency opportunities, including grants of up to $1,000.
www.artistcommunities.org/emergency-relief-programs

Artists’ Fellowship Financial Assistance
The Artists’ Fellowship provides emergency aid to professional visual artists and their families in times of natural disaster or unexpected extreme hardship. Here is the application form.

CERF+
www.cerfplus.org

Change, Inc. – Emergency Grants
Emergency grants of up to $1,000 for artists in all disciplines in need of emergency aid. Evidence of established professional status is required. For detail on how to apply, call 212-473-3742 for recorded instructions. Send applications to: PO Box 1818, Sanibel, Florida 33957

Creative Relief Louisiana
To help artists and arts organizations impacted in Louisiana, please visit:
creativerelieflouisiana.org

Regional arts councils are working with state agencies in Louisiana and Texas, as well as national and regional agencies to assist in providing response, relief and recovery resources to artists and arts organizations affected by Hurricane Harvey/Tropical Storm Harvey.

Disaster Assistance.gov
To find help for your immediate needs, visit this website to identify resources in your area:
www.disasterassistance.gov

FEMA
Find up-to-date information on FEMA’s response in areas recently impacted by the hurricanes and tropical storms (Texas, Louisiana, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) visit their website. To apply for assistance, how to help, and how to search for loved ones visit their website:
www.fema.gov

Fresh Arts
EMERGENCY RESOURCES FOR HOUSTON ARTISTS (and non-artists too!)
In light of the unbelievable devastation Hurricane Harvey has unleashed on Houston and surrounding areas of the Texas gulf coast, Fresh Arts has compiled an “Emergency Resources for Artists” Google Spreadsheet that can be found here. The sheet includes national emergency artist grants/funding opportunities, general resource guides, local emergency response info, and links to area shelters, volunteer opportunities and more. While several resources are listed for individual artists and arts organizations, MANY of the listed resources apply to anyone in need.

Foundation for Contemporary Arts
Emergency Grant Deadline
Assistance for individual artists. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis monthly:
www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants

Greater Houston Community Foundation
For those seeking help from local Texas resources:
ghcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Hurricane-Harvey-Resources-NEED-HELP-2017-08-30-700PM.pdf

Haven Foundation Grants
The Foundation grants to safeguard and sustain the careers of established freelance artists, writers and other members of the arts and art production communities during times of difficulty.
www.thehavenfdn.org/application

Hero Initiative – Helping Comic Creators in Need
Applicants must have been working as a comic book writer, penciller, inker, colorist, or letterer on a work-for-hire basis for no less than 10 years to be eligible.
www.heroinitiative.org/eligibility-help/

Jazz Foundation of America
The Foundation’s Housing and Emergency Assistance program provides jazz and blues artists with an experienced social worker to assess his/her situation and provide rapid assistance, including financial assistance. Contact:  or 212-245-3999.
www.jazzfoundation.org/what-we-do/housing-and-emergency-assistance

The Joan Mitchell: Emergency Grant Program
The Joan Mitchell Foundation provides emergency support to US based visual artists working in the mediums of painting, sculpture, and/or drawing, who have suffered significant losses after natural or manmade disasters that have affected their community. Artists who have been negatively impacted due to catastrophic situations of this nature can apply to the Foundation for funding. Please contact the Joan Mitchell Foundation for additional information at and for more info visit:
joanmitchellfoundation.org/artist-programs/artist-grants/emergency

Hurricane Harvey LGBTQ Disaster Relief Fund
The LGBTQ Disaster Relief Fund, managed by the Montrose Center, will be used to help individuals and families begin to rebuild their lives through counseling, case management, direct assistance with shelf stable food, furniture, housing and more. The Center’s dedicated case management team is on call to help homeless youth, seniors, people living with HIV, hate crime survivors, and those devastated by the storm. For volunteer opportunities please visit:
www.montrosecenter.org/hub/volunteer-2-2/

While the Montrose Center will focus primarily on empowering the LGBTQ community to rebuild after the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey, we serve all people in need regardless of their sexuality.
my.reason2race.com/DNicol/HurricaneHarveyLGBTQDisasterReliefFund2017

Louisiana Association for Nonprofits Organizations (LANO)
A resource page for nonprofit organizations in Louisiana as you begin to identify needs and next steps.
www.lano.org/?page=17Harvey

MusiCares
MusiCares has announced the establishment of a relief fund to support members of the music community (includes producers, sound engineers, musicians songwriters, and others) affected by the recent devastation of Hurricane Harvey. Assistance includes coverage of basic living expenses such as shelter, food, utilities, and transportation; medical expenses, including doctor and hospital bills, and medications; clothing; instrument and recording equipment replacement; relocation costs; home repairs; debris removal; and more. For more information visit their website at www.grammy.com/musicares.  The following link is for an application for disaster relief:
www.grammy.com/sites/com/files/mc_disaster_relief_app.pdf

PEN America 
The PEN Writers’ Emergency Fund is an emergency fund for professional—published or produced—writers in acute, emergency financial crisis. Depending on the situation, the Fund gives grants of up to $2,000.
pen.org/writers-emergency-fund/

Texas Workforce Commission – Disaster Unemployment Assistance
If you lost your job or work because of Hurricane Harvey, you can apply for unemployment benefits.  You may be eligible for DUA if one of the following occurred as a direct result of the disaster:

  • You lost your job, which was more than 50% of your total income.
  • You live in, work in, or travel through the disaster area.
  • Your place of employment was damaged or closed.
  • You were scheduled to start work but the job no longer exists or you can no longer reach the new job.
  • You suffered injury or incapacitation.
  • You became the breadwinner or major support of the household due to the death of the head of household.

www.twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/disaster-unemployment-assistance

RESOURCES FOR ART ORGANIZATIONS

Americans for the Arts
Are You or Do You Know an Arts Organization Affected by Irma?
www.americansforthearts.org/by-topic/disaster-preparedness/hurricane-irma-relief

There are many locations for resources and information on disaster response and recovery. Here are some of the resources we have found to help you in your recovery.

  • The Florida Division of Cultural Affairs listing of disaster recovery resources.
  • Georgia Council for the Arts lists publications and resources of disaster preparedness and response.
  • The Florida Art Therapy Association is available for those dealing with the mental strain of recovery and response
  • The Florida Association of Public Art Professionals has resources for hurricane impacted public art collections.
  • The Tampa Arts Council provides a list of post-Irma resources for the arts and cultural organizations.
  • The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs released a message from the Director regarding recovery and assessment
  • The National Endowment for the Arts has extended their Art Works grants program due to Hurricane Irma.
  • The National Heritage Responders (NHR) responds to the needs of cultural institutions during emergencies and disasters through coordinated efforts with first responders, state agencies, vendors and the public.
  • UNESCO is in close contact with local authorities, assisting with efforts to assess damage to cultural heritage in the region including the Virgin Islands and Florida.  More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Arts Ready

Creative Relief Louisiana
To help artists and arts organizations impacted in Louisiana, please visit:
creativerelieflouisiana.org

Regional arts councils are working with state agencies in Louisiana and Texas, as well as national and regional agencies to assist in providing response, relief and recovery resources to artists and arts organizations affected by Hurricane Harvey/Tropical Storm Harvey.

Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) Project
For performing arts and cultural heritage organizations needing recovery assistance, please contact PAR Project Director Tom Clareson via email at or via phone or text at (614) 439-1796 and he will put you in contact with the PAR Partner(s) who can provide you with the most appropriate assistance. performingartsreadiness.org

Texas Commission on the Arts (TCA)
TCA is concerned about the arts organizations and artists impacted by Hurricane Harvey.  Visit their website for information about resources that may be helpful.
www.arts.texas.gov/resources/hurricane-harvey-resources/ 

Texas Workforce Commission – Disaster Unemployment Assistance
If you lost your job or work because of Hurricane Harvey, you can apply for unemployment benefits.  You may be eligible for DUA if one of the following occurred as a direct result of the disaster:

  • You lost your job, which was more than 50% of your total income.
  • You live in, work in, or travel through the disaster area.
  • Your place of employment was damaged or closed.
  • You were scheduled to start work but the job no longer exists or you can no longer reach the new job.
  • You suffered injury or incapacitation.
  • You became the breadwinner or major support of the household due to the death of the head of household.

www.twc.state.tx.us/jobseekers/disaster-unemployment-assistance

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A DONATION

American Red Cross
Donations will support the larger Houston community. Please visit the Hurricane Harvey Relief website at:
www.redcross.org/donate/donation

Charity Navigator
To make a donation to national and local organizations that are providing food, shelter, and medical support for those in need, here is a list of highly rated charities responding in the wake of the Hurricane Harvey devastation.
www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=5239

Greater Houston Community Foundation
For those wanting to make monetary and/or in-kind donations, please visit the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund website:
ghcf.org