COVID-19 Resources (Archive)

State and Federal Benefits and Eligibility

Under the state’s regular Unemployment Insurance (UI) program, claimants are eligible for up to 26 weeks of benefits. These benefits can be extended an additional 13 weeks under the CARES Act for a total of up to 39 weeks of benefits.

In addition, claimants that are not eligible for the regular UI program or who have exhausted their benefits under that program may be eligible for the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for 13 weeks of UI benefits.

Arizona’s Department of Economic Security (DES) encourages the following individuals impacted by COVID-19 to apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits:

• Individuals whose employer has permanently or temporarily ceased or drastically reduced operations due to COVID-19 resulting in a reduction of wages;
• Individuals who, due to requirements that the individual be quarantined, are separated from employment and do not have any available paid leave even if the individual has an expectation of returning to work after the quarantine is over;
• Individuals who leave employment due to a risk of exposure or infection and are a member of a population that is particularly susceptible to COVID-19;
• Individuals who leave employment to care for a family member who has been infected with COVID-19; or
• Individuals who for any other scenario are separated from work for reasons related to COVID-19.

Unemployment Assistance for freelance and contract workers

The CARES Act created a Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program for individuals that are self-employed, contract workers, those ineligible for state unemployment benefits or have exhausted benefits. Arizona is currently working on the implementation of this new program. Individuals are encouraged to file their applications now for processing as soon as the program is implemented in Arizona.

In general, PUA provides up to 39 weeks of benefits to qualifying individuals who are otherwise able to work and available for work within the meaning of applicable Arizona state statute, except that they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable or unavailable to work due to one of the COVID-19 related reasons identified in the CARES Act.

If you have not already submitted an unemployment application, please do so on the state’s online Unemployment Insurance claims system. It is important to apply even if you are ineligible for regular unemployment as you may be eligible for benefits under the CARES Act.

If you already applied for Unemployment Insurance benefits and you think you may be eligible for PUA the Department will contact you when further action is needed. Keep a record of your earnings each week as this information will be required to determine your eligibility when PUA is implemented.

CARES Act Provisions related to Unemployment Insurance

1. Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
   This emergency benefit provides most individuals receiving unemployment benefits an emergency increase in traditional unemployment benefits of an additional $600 per week through July 25, 2020.
2. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
   In general, this temporary emergency benefit provides benefits to individuals who have historically not been eligible for unemployment benefits or who have exhausted their unemployment benefits.When PUA is released, it will provide up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits to people who are able and available for work (within the meaning of applicable Arizona state statute), although they are unemployed, partially unemployed, or unable to work due to one of the COVID-19 related reasons identified in the CARES Act (Section 2102(a)(3)(A)(ii)(I)). This includes workers not otherwise eligible for regular unemployment, including self-employed individuals and those who have exhausted regular and extended benefits.
   Note: Those who are eligible under PUA will receive the weekly $600 FPUC funds along with the original UI benefits, ranging from $184-$240. The FPUC payments are made every week until July 25, 2020.
3. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
   PEUC provides an additional 13 weeks of emergency unemployment benefits for people who remain unemployed after they’ve exhausted their traditional unemployment benefits.

Zoom Cafecito

Applying for Unemployment Insurance as a Freelancer/Part-time Employee

“Learn From My Mistakes!” Recorded on April 24, this interactive bilingual conversation offers tips on what to do and what not to do when applying for pandemic unemployment assistance as a freelance artist and/or freelancer/part time employee.

Facilitated by Milta Ortiz. Co-presented by ASU Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and the Arizona Commission on the Arts.

SNAP

Nutrition Assistance (formerly the Food Stamp Program) is Arizona’s program for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Nutrition Assistance supports families to prevent under-nutrition in Arizona.

You can use the screen for eligibility website to see if you qualify for Nutrition Assistance; however, the best way to know if you are eligible is to submit an application for benefits and go through the application process. The application process includes verifying that we have received complete and accurate information along with an interview conducted by our staff. For more information, see the How to Apply for Cash, Medical, and Nutrition Assistance Video.

Able-bodied adults without dependents are only eligible for a few months of Nutrition Assistance unless they are exempt, working, or participating in the SNA E&T program.

If you do not qualify for Nutrition Assistance benefits, or need help with food during the application process, please contact The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).  Persons receiving Nutrition Assistance automatically qualify for TEFAP.

Meals for Children

Children and teens ages 18 and younger can receive free meals at participating locations throughout the state. You can get meals from any site close to you. A map of participating locations can be found at https://www.azhealthzone.org/summerfood/.

Obtaining health insurance outside Open Enrollment through the Marketplace

Outside Open Enrollment, you can get health insurance only 2 ways:

• With a Special Enrollment Period. You can qualify if you lose job-based coverage, have a baby, get married, or have certain other life changes.
• Through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). You can apply any time and can enroll immediately if you’re eligible.

You may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you lost health coverage through your employer or the employer of a family member in the past 60 days OR you expect to lose coverage in the next 60 days, including if you lose health coverage through a parent or guardian because you’re no longer a dependent.

If you lost your job, but didn’t also lose health coverage, because your former job didn’t offer coverage, you generally won’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. By itself, a job loss (or a change in income) doesn’t make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in Marketplace coverage.

Visit Healthcare.gov and answer a few questions to find out if you can enroll in or change your coverage.

Obtaining Coverage through AHCCCS

Mortgage Forbearance

If you are experiencing difficulty making on-time mortgage payments due to the national coronavirus emergency, forbearance may be an option for you.

Forbearance is when your mortgage servicer, that’s the company that sends your mortgage statement and manages your loan, or lender allows you to pause or reduce your payments for a limited period of time.

Forbearance does not erase what you owe. You’ll have to repay any missed or reduced payments in the future. So, if you’re able to keep up with your payments, keep making them. The types of forbearance available vary by loan type.

Mortgage relief options

If you can’t make your mortgage payments because of the coronavirus, start by understanding your options and reaching out for help. The Consumer Financial Protection bureau offer a guide to mortgage relief options.

Protect your finances

As you prepare for the possible spread of the coronavirus or COVID-19, here are resources to protect yourself financially.

Additional Information and Resources

FHFA has established a dedicated webpage with relevant updates and resources available here: www.fhfa.gov/coronavirus(link is external)

Additionally, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have their own dedicated webpages for homeowners, with online tools for determining if your mortgage is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac:

Fannie Mae: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Help(link is external)

• Use Fannie Mae’s Loan Lookup Tool(link is external)
• Or call 1-800-2FANNIE (1-800-232-6643)

Freddie Mac: Extending Help to Homeowners Impacted by COVID-19(link is external)

• Use Freddie Mac’s Loan Lookup Tool
• Or call 1-800-FREDDIE (1-800-373-3343)

Save Our Home AZ  is a foreclosure assistance program for underemployed and unemployed Arizonans offering Principal Reduction Assistance, Monthly Mortgage Subsidy Assistance and Second Lien Elimination Assistance to qualified homeowners. The program’s goal is to aid homeowners in avoiding foreclosure by assisting with mortgage affordability.

Rental Eviction Prevention Assistance

Arizona Utility Assistance

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a Federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills.
Community Action Programs (CAPs) and other designated local providers offer several programs to assist with energy assistance. The Division contracts with local CAPs for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally-funded program that helps low-income households pay their heating/cooling bills, minimize crises, and make energy costs more affordable.

Eligible energy customers may receive help in three ways:

1. Help to pay current and past due energy bills
2. Help with utility deposits
3. Help with energy efficiency measures to reduce future energy costs

Who is eligible?

To qualify for LIHEAP, the applicant must have an income that falls within the program guidelines. Priority for service assistance is determined at the local Community Action Agency level. Higher priority is granted if someone in your home is a senior citizen (60 years of age & older), a person with disabilities or a young child under six years old.

How often can someone receive assistance?

The availability of LIHEAP assistance is not guaranteed and is available on a first-come first-serve basis. LIHEAP eligibility is limited to once in a 12-month period. Remember to contact your utility company as soon as possible when you realize you might have trouble paying your bill.

To apply for the LIHEAP program, contact the local Community Action Program in your area. An appointment is needed to obtain utility assistance services.

Please note that there is high demand for assistance from Community Action Agencies, and their phone lines get very busy. It may take you some time to get through.

Emergency Loans
Small Business Guide
US Chamber of Commerce

Préstamos de Emergencia
Cámara de Comercio de los Estados Unidos

Arizona Business Resources Guide
Arizona Commerce Authority

Small Business Administration

In addition to traditional SBA funding programs, the CARES Act established several new temporary programs to address the COVID-19 outbreak.

• Paycheck Protection Program provides loan forgiveness for retaining employees by temporarily expanding the traditional SBA 7(a) loan program.
• EIDL Loan Advance provides up to $10,000 of economic relief to businesses that are currently experiencing temporary difficulties.
• SBA Express Bridge Loans enable small businesses who currently have a business relationship with an SBA Express Lender to access up to $25,000 quickly.
• SBA Debt Relief provides a financial reprieve to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Other Lenders

Save Small Business Fund

Funded by corporate and philanthropic partners, the Save Small Business Fund is a collective effort to provide $5,000 grants to as many small employers as we can. We hope these supplemental funds will help you get through the next days and weeks.

Arizona COVID-19 Community Response Fund

The Arizona COVID-19 Community Response Fund will provide flexible resources to organizations in Arizona working with communities who are impacted by COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus. In coordination with public authorities and healthcare experts leading the response to this health crisis, along with community organizations and other funding partners, ACF is working to shape philanthropy’s response to local needs. ACF has intentionally established this fund with flexibility in mind to ensure that these resources may support communities as conditions, circumstances, and needs change throughout this crisis. The foundation is accepting funding requests from Arizona nonprofits whose ability to provide services to the community are impacted by COVID-19.

COVID-19 Community Support Fund

The COVID-19 Community Support Fund provides flexible resources to nonprofit organizations in southern Arizona. The COVID-19 Community Support Fund is designed to complement other available resources and to expand local capacity to address the needs of vulnerable populations disproportionately stressed by the coronavirus outbreak. Funds will be distributed to nonprofit organizations serving Arizona’s most vulnerable with a focus on providing basic human needs and access to healthcare to affected populations, including low-income individuals, residents without access to healthcare, older adults, health care workers, first responders, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled residents, and communities of color.

COVID-19 Nonprofit Event Relief Fund

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has caused many nonprofit organizations in southern Arizona to cancel fundraising events this spring. These events provide essential financial support for nonprofits to deliver their mission throughout the year. In response, the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona has established the COVID-19 Nonprofit Event Relief Fund. The Fund will provide a one-time grant award to organizations that, due to COVID-19, have had to cancel critical fundraising events and programming, resulting in a significant hardship on the organization. This general operating support grant can replace lost revenue and non-recoverable expenses.

Kiva Small Business Loans

Kiva, a lender specializing in small business, has increased access to its loans for US-based small businesses, including expanded eligibility, larger loans, and a grace period of up-to six months.

The Main Street Initiative Capital Raise Loan

If you have an existing brick & mortar business that has been negatively effected by the COVID-19 outbreak and you launch a capital raise on Mainvest, you may be eligible to receive a $2,000 zero-interest loan immediately*. Then through your capital raise, you can receive over $100,000 of investment from your community.

Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program

The Paycheck Protection Program is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll.

SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.

You can apply through any existing SBA 7(a) lender or through any federally insured depository institution, federally insured credit union, and Farm Credit System institution that is participating. Other regulated lenders will be available to make these loans once they are approved and enrolled in the program. You should consult with your local lender as to whether it is participating in the program.

Lenders may begin processing loan applications as soon as April 3, 2020. The Paycheck Protection Program will be available through June 30, 2020.

The CARES Act and Independent Contractor

Independent Contractors Guide to CARES Act Relief
US Chamber of Commerce

National Arts & Culture Updates

• Americans for the Arts (AFTA): the national arts advocacy organization is regularly updating this page about national arts & culture news and resources during the COVID-19 outbreak.
• National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA): providing national arts & culture news updates from the national, not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that champions public support of the arts in America.
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA): the independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence, provides news and updates on federal arts funding. Guidance for grantees with 2020 NEA Project Grants.
• US Department of Arts and Culture (USDAC) is providing news, updates and resources at Community Care in the Time of Coronavirus.

International Arts Sector Impact

• Global Call to Creatives: An open brief from the United Nations. For the first time, the UN is launching an open brief to creatives everywhere to help spread public health message in ways which will be effective, accessible and shareable. (01/27/20)
• Hyperallergic: an arts & culture website, is maintaining a daily report on the impact of COVID-19 on the art world.

Emergency Resources for Organizations

• ActOne: programs providing arts experiences through field trips for students from Title 1 schools and the Act One Culture Pass. Status about COVID-19 and field trip cancellations.
• American Alliance of Museums: COVID-19 Resources & Information for the Museum Field.
• Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits: news and resources for Arizona nonprofits.
• Alliance of Artists Communities: Preparedness for Residencies Resources + Approaches.
• ArtPlace: resources to start to help mitigate/navigate the effects of the virus (whether it be financial, health, etc) going forward.
• Arts Administrators of Color Network: Our Response to COVID-19.
• Arts Administrators of Color Network: AACN Facebook online discussion group.
• ArtsReady: the emergency preparedness service has assembled resources specific to arts organizations.
• Brian D. Bumby/GG Arts Law: offers legal guidance (not legal advice!) on issues including cancellations, Force Majeure, and travel restrictions.
• City of Flagstaff: a list of resources, including the Arts and Culture Sector. The City of Flagstaff Economic Development Offices are a city resource and connection to information and programs to assist arts, culture, and community science organizations to adjust and navigate these changing conditions of COVID-19. Contact Eliza Kretzmann at eliza.kretzmann@flagstaffaz.gov or 928-213-2969 (please leave a voicemail to receive a callback) for more information.
• Common Field: COVID-19 resources for the artist organization field.
• EMCarts Online Support for Arts Leaders and Teams:EmcArts’ new online services offer personal reinforcement for your role as a leader, and support for your team or organization to move forward in complexity and confusion. Our process facilitators are deeply engaged friends and colleagues, mentors, coaches and sounding-boards to support your work and your health wherever you are now. Through weekly online articles, virtual “office hours,” weekly online sessions, and facilitated network-building, we hope to provide you with the tools you need. Contact us at info@artsfwd.org.
• Event Safety Alliance is making several key resources available for free or at reduced cost, including the Event Safety Guide, and Event Safety Access core safety training.
• Latinx Artists & Cultural Workers: NALAC Facebook online discussion group.
• League of American Orchestras has gathered resources for orchestras, including guidance on international travel and communicating during a time of crisis.
• Performing Arts Readiness supports a variety of programs to increase the knowledge and ability of performing arts organizations to create and execute emergency recovery plans.
• Rapid Response: Racism is a Virus Too: The Nellie Mae Education Foundation created this fund to respond to the hate crimes and bias against Asian American communities resulting from COVID-19. The Foundation has allocated grant funds to support Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) that provide services for AAPI communities. Download the RFP here.
• Springboard for the Arts: Helpful tips and advice on Principles for Ethical Cancellation.

Emergency Funding for Organizations

• Business Development Finance Corporation: nonprofit SBA-Certified Development Company, is offering affordable working capital loans for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 through its SBA Community Advantage Loan Program.
• CARES Act: How to Apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds: Resource from the Independent Sector for individuals, small nonprofit and large nonprofits.
• Community Investment Corporation (CIC): specializes in business microloans up to $10,000. All small businesses affected by COVID-19 will be offered CIC’s nonprofit partnership and “enhanced community benefit” rates which can be as low as 1.5% depending upon qualification.
• Community Foundation for Southern Arizona: has established the COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund to support nonprofits that have had to cancel critical fundraising events.
• Facebook Small Business Grants Program will award $100 million in cash grants to 30,000 eligible small businesses. Keep on the look out for this soon.
• Greater Green Valley Community Foundation: With the assistance from the ‘Better Together Southern Arizona Coalition’, the GGVCF has established the COVID19 Community Impact Fund, with an initial $10K that will be used to support community needs in response to COVID-19.
• Growth Partners Arizona: in collaboration with the Business Development Finance Corporation (BDFC) now offers Small Business Success Loans of $10,000-$75,000 to qualified small businesses for business growth and expansion, equipment, long-term working capital, tenant improvements, and consolidation of more expensive debt.
• Kiva: a lender specializing in small business, has increased access to its loans for US-based small businesses, including expanded eligibility, larger loans, and a grace period of up-to six months.
• Hello Alice Small Business Grants and Resources is offering $10,000 grants for small business owners affected by COVID-19.
• Local First Arizona Small Business Relief Fund is a fun set up for businesses with less than 3 employees that make less than $250,000 in annual revenue.
• Pivot Grant: The Pivot Grant is a new grant from the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona (AFTSA) that will fund the adaptation of artistic projects or programming to support alternative methods of sharing (i.e. virtual, digital, socially distant) in response to the ongoing CDC guidelines. Applications close: April 22, 2020 (11:59pm)
• SBA Paycheck Protection Program: The Paycheck Protection Program is an SBA loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on the payroll. The SBA will forgive loans if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities.
• Salt River Project (SRP): has approved more than $1 million in additional contributions to assist SRP’s residential and small business customers who might be having difficulty paying their electric bills as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
• The Lewis Prize: In light of the impact COVID-19 is having on people across the United States, especially young people, The Lewis Prize for Music is establishing a $1 million COVID-19 Community Response Fund. The fund will distribute over 20 grants of $25,000 to $50,000 to responsive and adaptive Creative Youth Development (CYD) music programs. The application will open on Monday, April 20 and close on Friday, May 8 with grants distributed on June 16.
• US Small Business Administration (SBA): Arizona has now been approved for Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus.
• The WESTAF CARES Relief Fund for Organizations Grant application opens May 6. Supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, WESTAF is offering grants for general operating support to eligible arts and culture organizations in the West impacted by COVID-19. Apply today: westafcares.gosmart.org/

Webinars/Articles for Organizations

• CRISIS ENGAGEMENT: 12 Tasks to Sustain Donors in Turbulent Times. Thursday, April 9 at 10:00 AM with Matt Lehrman, Founder, Social Prosperity Partners. Amidst a still-unfolding public health and economic crisis, leaders of nonprofit organizations are profoundly challenged to sustain the support of their donors, members, volunteers, and other stakeholders. This free 24-minute webinar (live, with time for open Q&A) offers an espresso shot of substantive & actionable recommendations designed to help you protect the relationships upon which your organization depends. Questions? Please contact us at arts.culture@phoenix.gov. This webinar is presented by the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and Arizona Citizens for the Arts.
• The Board/CEO Relationship During Uncertain Times: The Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits presents a free workshop Monday, April 6, 10:00 am – 11:00 am (Arizona). The relationship between the Board and the CEO has always been critical to your organization’s success, and is even more so during these uncertain times. Join us and feature presenter, Bruce Weber of the Weber Group, for a candid discussion about the impact a strong Board/CEO partnership can have during times of crisis.
• Federal Coronavirus Relief Bills: What Do They Mean for Nonprofits? In rapid succession over the last two weeks, Congress passed and the President signed two far-reaching pieces of legislation designed to provide relief to the American people and businesses – including nonprofits. Included in the provisions of these bills are major victories for nonprofits, operational relief, and new obligations. The networks of the National Council of Nonprofits  hosted a national presentation to help all in the charitable community understand what various provisions of the two laws mean for nonprofits. (03/31/20)
• The Performing Arts Readiness Project (PAR) offers free webinars on many aspects of arts preparedness. More are scheduled, and previous webinars have been recorded and are available on demand.
• Networking for Disaster Management in the Performing Arts presented by Performing Arts Readiness Project – Emergency response and preparedness for performing arts organizations can be a difficult task for individual organizations. This free two-hour webinar will demonstrate how working with multiple organizations in a network for disaster management can be accomplished. You will learn how to use the Cultural Placekeeping Guide to direct your networking efforts.
• One to One: Musical America talks with Industry Experts and Leaders about Navigating these Extraordinary Times.  Musical America’s Susan Elliott turned to lawyer Brian Taylor Goldstein of GG Arts Law to make sense of issues affecting the industry during CODVID-19, including force majeure clauses, Visas for foreign artists in the U.S., and, in light of the crisis, the need to rethink how the performing-arts business operates. (03/25/20)
• Crisis Communication and Reputation Management for Performing Arts Organizations. Are you prepared? This class reviews elements of strategic communication that are essential before, during and after crisis events. It examines how your organization can best prepare to respond to crisis and restore organizational reputation. (03/25/20)
• Arts and Culture Sector and the Coronavirus: What We Know and How to Move Forward. Hosted by Americans for the Arts. (03/19/20)
• We Are Stronger Together: Navigating Crises and Sustaining Healthy Relationships in the Era of Coronavirus. Hosted by Americans for the Arts. (03/18/20)
• Coronavirus Preparedness for Theatres. Hosted by Theater Communications Group. (03/06/20)
• Webinar: How Philanthropy Can Respond from Center for Disaster Philanthropy. (03/05/20)
• Prepare Your Organization for the Coronavirus Disease Outbreak. Hosted by Event Safety Alliance. (03/04/20)

Resources for Artists

• Arizona Department of Education (ADE): The Title IV-A page of ADE’s website now includes online learning and enrichment resources specifically for arts education.
• Alliance of Artists Communities: offers a list of emergency relief programs.
• Alliance of Artists Communities: COVID-19 approaches to residencies online share-out.
• Arts Administrators of Color Network: AACN Facebook online discussion group.
• Arts Education Partnerhip (AEP): resource page focused on teaching artists and arts educators.
• Billboard: helping music professionals and their loved ones navigate the crisis with compiled a list of resources at both the national and state levels, including more than four dozen relief funds.
• CERF+: provides education programs, advocacy, network building, and emergency relief for artists, offers Coronavirus: Protect Yourself and Your Career.
• Creative Capital: continually updating their list of resources for artists including emergency grants and guides for web-conferencing and livestreaming events.
• Creative Capital: virtual workshops for artists.
• The Dance Edit on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news on COVID-19’s impact on the dance world.
• Forcast: the resources page offers a variety of access points to explore the field of public art.
• Freelance Artists Resources: offers an ever-growing, crowdsourced list of resources for freelance artists, including emergency funding opportunities, mental health resources, and online meeting platforms.
• HowlRound TV: provides a free and shared resource for live conversations and performances relevant to the world’s performing arts and cultural fields.
• Latinx Artists & Cultural Workers: NALAC Facebook online discussion group.
• Maricopa Community College Internet Services – The FCC has an agreement stating that providers will open hot-spots and provide other services for increased accessibility to the internet. MCC has aggregated internet services and access resources.
• Milkweed Arts: offering purchased art supplies with free contactless doorstep delivery; free contactless pickup/delivery of projects fired in the studio. For Maricopa County artists, call 602-341-6580.
• National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness & Emergency Response (NCAPER): a voluntary task force of national, regional, state, and local arts organizations, public agencies, and foundations, NCAPER helps ensure that artists, arts/cultural organizations, cultural funders, and arts businesses have the capacity and ability to respond effectively to disasters and emergencies affecting the arts and culture sector.
• New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA): offers a list of emergency relief resources.
• North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA): provides COVID-19 information particular to performing artists, agents and managers,  including information related to airfare refund and/or cancellation policies, emergency fund and relief programs, sample communications, and more.
• Oakwood Creative Care: Oakwood Creative Care is offering virtual engagement sessions to those with dementia to fight boredom/isolation, enhance quality of life, and spark joy. Daily affirmations/gratitude; 1-on-1 Sessions; Online Group Classes; and talk with dementia experts.
• Southwest Folklife Alliance: Traditional artists and tradition bearers in Arizona have been hit hard by Covid19 stay-at-home directives, many losing access to audiences or students and some unable to cover basic needs of food and rent. We serve these community members through our regular programming (Tucson Meet Yourself Folklife Festival and our annual Master-Apprentice Artist Award). Traditional artists who complete our survey will qualify for up $500 in direct emergency relief funds.
• StartUp Artfair: Art World Insights is a weekly, curated selection of articles of interest to artists and collectors.
• Statera: offers an Emergency Response Directory for artists during COVID-19 that covers topics such as advocacy, social justice action, travel/visa information, funding, best practices for online teaching/learning/gathering, etc.
• “Teaching Theatre Online: A Shift in Pedagogy Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak,” originally created by Dr. Daphnie Sicre of Loyola University, provides practical advise and resources to help theatre and/or dance teaching artists to move their classes online.

Emergency Funds for Artists

• Actors Fund: fosters stability and resiliency, and provides a safety net for performing arts and entertainment professionals over their lifespan.
• Actos de Confianza Micro Grant: Latinx individual artists and arts administrators based in the United States or Puerto Rico whose work has been adversely impacted by COVID-19 and demonstrate an urgent financial need can apply for short-term financial assistance. Undocumented Latinx artists in the United States, and Latinx artists who have been deported from the United States are also encouraged to apply. All disciplines welcomed. Applicants should be 18 years or older.
• Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant: intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified artists whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation.
• American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) Relief Fund: provides support and temporary financial assistance to members who are in need.
• American Society of Journalists & Authors Writers Emergency Assistance Fund: helping established freelance writers across the country who, because of advanced age, illness, disability, a natural disaster, or an extraordinary professional crisis, are unable to work.
• Artist Relief: Artist Relief will distribute $5,000 grants to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19; serve as an ongoing informational resource; and co-launch the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, designed by Americans for the Arts, to better identify and address the needs of artists.
• Artist Relief Tree: collecting donations intended to support artists – particularly freelance artists.
• Artists’ Charitable Fund: assists American artists living anywhere in the United States by paying a portion of their medical/dental/eye-care bills.
• Artists’ Fellowship, Inc.: provides emergency aid to professional fine artists and their families in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement or unexpected extreme hardship.
• Arts Writers Grant Program: As the COVID-19 outbreak further threatens the cultural and arts writing landscape, the Arts Writers Grant Program is grateful to support emerging and established writers who are writing about contemporary visual art. The deadline is May 20 at 11:59pm ET.
• Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund providing $200 Emergency Funds intended to help those pursuing careers as artists or arts administrators whose income has been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Authors League Fund helps professional writers in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune by providing no-strings-attached “loans” to pay for pressing expenses.
• Blues Foundation: special fund provides immediate resources to full-time blues musicians whose revenue streams have been severely diminished by the current coronavirus pandemic.
• CARES Act: How to Apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds: Resource from the Independent Sector for individuals, small nonprofit and large nonprofits.
• Carnegie Fund for Authors: Emergency assistance to needy writers who have commercially published at least one book of reasonable length which has received reader acceptance.  (516) 877-2141
• Change Inc.: provides one-time emergency grants up to $1000 to artists of any discipline. (212) 473-3742
• Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+): As part of CERF+’s broader COVID-19 crisis response strategies, CEFF+ will provide one-time $1,000 relief grants to meet urgent food, housing and/or health insecurities. The grants will be awarded in two cycles: the application opens July 8th and the deadline for the first round will be July 29th, the second round will open August 19th and the deadline will be September 9th.
• Creator Fund: organized by ConvertKit, this fund helps creators in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Disabled Creator and Activist Pandemic Relief: volunteers are currently collecting information for this fund aimed at giving aid to disabled creators and artists who’ve lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Dramatists Guild Foundation (DGF): Emergency grants for writers.
• Emergency Grant for Curators: administered by the Kinkade Family Foundation, this grant is intended for curators who have a venue secured for a project and are greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Equal Sound Corona Relief Fund: for musicians who have lost income from gigs cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Facebook Small Business Grants Program
• Field of Vision (will reopen in May)
• Format – Photographers Fund
• Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant: provide urgent funding ($500-$2,500) for visual and performing artists who incur unexpected or unbudgeted expenses for projects close to completion with committed exhibition or performance dates.
• Gottlieb Emergency Grant Program: provides financial assistance to painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Each grant is given as one-time assistance for a specific emergency, examples of which are fire, flood, or emergency medical need.
• Jazz Foundation of America: a musician’s emergency fund provides housing assistance, pro bono medical care, disaster relief, and direct financial support in times of crisis.
• Jazz Road Quick Assist Fund: is a new, temporary emergency relief fund for jazz artists around the country who have lost work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and response. Through this fund, we are offering a limited number of $1,000 grants to artists whose tours and gigs in March, April, or May 2020 have been cancelled.
• 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 man-made disasters that have affected their community.
• Maurice Sendak Foundation for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
• MusiCares – Short-term financial assistance for musicians from the GRAMMYS.
• Mayer Foundation: economic relief to needy artists who are distressed or suffering from poverty, low income or lack of financial resources.
• Musician’s Foundation Grants typically range in amount from approximately $500-$3,000. All professional musicians, regardless of their genre or instrument, can apply for themselves or a family member. You must be a musician in a time of serious need, due to personal, medical, dental, or family crisis, natural disaster, or other emergency situation.
• New Music Solidarity Fund: is designed to help new/creative/improvised music freelancers whose livelihood has been threatened as a result of performances which have been canceled during the COVID-19 crisis.
• New York Foundation for the Arts (FYFA): has partnered with Anonymous Was A Woman (AWAW) to launch an emergency relief grant program to support women-identifying visual artists over 40 who have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Closes April 8, 2020.
• One Fair Wage Emergency Fund (service workers)
• PAAL: Emergency Fund for Artists with Families (Parent Artist Advocacy League)
• Patreon Artist Fund
• PEN American Writers’ Emergency Fund provides financial assistance to painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation.
• Pillars | Relief Fund for Muslim Artists & Activists: emergency grants of $500 for individual artists and activists who identify as Muslim and who are in the United States.
• Pivot Grant: The Pivot Grant is a new grant from the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona (AFTSA) that will fund the adaptation of artistic projects or programming to support alternative methods of sharing (i.e. virtual, digital, socially distant) in response to the ongoing CDC guidelines. Applications close: April 22, 2020 (11:59pm)
• Poets & Writers COVID Relief Fund
• Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund: this fund is to help at least 100 queer writers of color who have been financially impacted by the current COVID-19.
• Rauschenberg Emergency Grants: beginning in May 2020, in partnership with New York Foundation for the Arts, this national program will provide visual and media artists and choreographers with one-time grants of up to $5,000 for medical emergencies.
• The Rhythm and Blues Foundation: provides emergency financial assistance and career recognition awards to artists and practitioners of rhythm and blues music who worked and/or recorded rhythm and blues music in the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s.
• Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America: offers interest-free loans to members facing unexpected medical expenses.
• Society of Singers Financial Aid: helps singers meet financial needs resulting from crises or other circumstances. Charitable grants may be provided toward basic necessities of life such as food, shelter, utilities, transportation, and medical/dental expenses.
• South Asian Arts Resiliency Fund (for South Asian arts workers in performing arts, film, visual arts, and/or literature)
• Southwest Folklife Alliance: Traditional artists who complete our survey will qualify for up $500 in direct emergency relief funds.
• Springboard for the Arts/Personal Emergency Relief Fund: Springboard has expanded the guidelines of their PERF to include lost income due to the cancelation of a specific, scheduled gig or opportunity (i.e. commissions, performances, contracts) due to COVID-19 precautionary measures.
• Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation (SDCF) Emergency Assistance Fund (SDC Members ONLY)
• Sustainable Arts Foundation: supporting artists and writers with children.
• Sweet Relief: created a donor-directed fund with a limited amount of support to be used specifically for musicians and music industry workers affected by the coronavirus.
• The Dancers Fund: provides financial assistance to dance professionals dealing with critical health issues creating a significant financial, emergency, or catastrophic hardship.
• The Haven Foundation: provides financial assistance to artists who have a health crisis; grants are one-year, and the financial amount provided is to the discretion of the Foundation.
• Tucson Musicians Go Fund Me COVID19 Relief: Benjamin Nisbet of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra has created a campaign to support his fellow working musicians in Tucson who will be greatly impacted by this quarantine.
• Twenty Summers (nomination form here)
• The Kaleidoscapes Covid-19 Artist Relief Stipend (Deadline April 30th)
• We Need Diverse Books (children’s book authors of color)
• Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation
• Women and Hollywood Amplify Filmmakers: If your project has been affected by the cancellation of SXSW or another festival or event, and you doing something else to recoup the costs or attend another event down the road, Women and Hollywood wants to help you amplify your campaign.
• Women Photograph: an initiative that launched in 2017 to elevate the voices of women* visual journalists, inclusive of a plurality of femme voices including trans, queer and non-binary people. Offering emergency grants.

Webinars/Articles for Artists

• Arts Action Fund: As the federal government considers plans to provide relief and economic stimulus in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, arts sector leaders and supporters are articulating sector needs. Learn how you can join this conversation.
• Americans for the Arts: AFTA is gathering data and impact stories. The Economic Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Arts and Cultural Sector survey will capture a broad spectrum of data and stories that will demonstrate how the arts and culture workers triumphed and survived this crisis as well as the effect of the outbreak on operations through cancelled events, lost wages, and additional expenses.
• Americans for the Arts: has developed the COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers, which is designed to capture financial and creative impact of COVID-19 on creative workers, highlight the resiliency and generosity of the creative sector, and make sure that the 5 million creative workers in the U.S. are supported and heard during this ongoing crisis and the eventual recovery.
• Artists, Culture Workers, Freelancers, Gig/Event Economy Losses Due to Covid-19 Cancellations
• APAP Coronavirus Impact Survey on the Performing Arts Industry. APAP, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, has just launched a field-wide survey in order to collect data for us to share with organizational funders and to include in advocacy efforts to the U.S. federal government.
• Childsplay Family Survey: Childsplay recognizes that there is a tremendous amount of online content heading your way, so we are conducting this survey to help us better understand what kinds of online activities would be most useful for you and your family. At the end of the survey, you will have the opportunity to enter into a raffle to win a Family 4-pack of tickets to any show in our 2020-2021 season.
• Indigenous Impact Survey
• National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC) Field Survey: NALAC is conducting a brief survey to better understand how COVID-19 is affecting both independent cultural workers and those who may belong to nonprofit arts organizations. (Check out results in real time here.)
• Southwest Folklife Alliance: Traditional artists who complete our survey will qualify for up $500 in direct emergency relief funds.
• Vox.com is soliciting stories.

• Mutual Aid Networks: Across the country, people are organizing online mutual aid groups to stay connected, share ideas, and help those in need. These grassroots, community-driven, all-volunteer networks use social media and other online tools to catalog community need, pool community resources, and connect community members in need with those who can provide assistance. Do you know of one that is serving your community? Please share in the “Share a Resource” form below!
  • AARP’s Community Connections page hosts a crowd-sourced map of networks.
  • COVID-19 Mutual Aid PHX Metro
  • Kinlani (Flagstaff) Mutual Aid
  • Laveen Mutual Aid
  • Tucson Community Mutual Aid
• Aliento offers art & healing workshops for those who have been impacted by deportation, detention, or the threat of family separation. In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Aliento has created resource pages for these communities in both English and Spanish.
• Each week, Trans Queer Pueblo, hosts a membership meeting focused on topics especially relevant to Arizona’s migrant and LGBT + community. They also offer free online Zumba classes and have Domingo Travisti | Sunday Fundays. More info can be found at https://linktr.ee/transqueerpueblo and on their Facebook and Instagram pages.
• Rising Youth Theatre has established a virtual learning space featuring resources, tools, and activities developed by their community of young artists.
• Southwest Folklife Alliance is offering Emergency Relief Funds for Traditional Artists & Culture Bearers. SFA is primarily funding traditional artists and culture bearers between 40 and 65+ years of age, who are living in remote or historically marginalized neighborhoods in Arizona. The application is in the form of a brief survey that will also help them identify the unique needs of this constituency.
• NDN Collective’s COVID-19 Response Project is designed to provide immediate relief to frontline organizations, Tribes, and individuals who are providing essential services to Indigenous communities.

National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works Blog “Are You Including People with Disabilities in Your Virtual Arts Events?”

How to Make Your Virtual Meetings and Events Accessible to the Disability Community: resource from Rooted in Rights  on key tips and information to producing well rounded accessible virtual content.

Leading Accessible Virtual Programs: webinar hosted by the Chicago Cultural Accessibility Consortium showing the processes involved in creating accessible virtual content.

How to Caption Your Videos: by Tina Childress, See Hear Communication Matters Blog, offers a sample guide for captioning online videos.

Captioning Options for Videoconferencing and Learning Management Systems: by Tina Childress, See Hear Communication Matters Blog, provides a detailed listing of captioning options for videoconferencing platforms and Learning Management Systems (LMS).

How to Produce a Livestreamed Event: article by HowlRound Theatre Commons shares a step-by-step event breakdown example.

#DeafEdTips: E-Learning Accessibility: blog by the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Education shares information and guidelines on how to provide accommodations and accessibility for students.