2021 COVID-19 Artist Relief Fund

HELP OUR ARTISTS

For over a year Arts events, concerts, and productions have been cancelled in cities across the nation due to the effects of COVID-19. Artists, musicians, and performers whose livelihoods are dependent on these events are facing insurmountable losses. Now is the time to give back to the artists and performers who contribute so much to the quality, vibrancy, and enjoyability of our lives. We are collecting donations to support artists in our community, who have been directly impacted by this global health crisis. The funds raised here will be distributed as relief grants to eligible artists and arts producers. 

The Northampton Arts Council is administering a second COVID-19 Artist Relief Grant for all artists and arts producers who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 and who contribute to the cultural vibrancy of Northampton, Florence, and Leeds. 

This decision was made in response to the Massachusetts Cultural Council’s most recent COVID-19 impact survey of the arts sector in Massachusetts. Since March 2020 working creatives in Massachusetts which includes individual artists, teaching artists, and scientists/humanists cite $30,403,616 in lost personal income due to the pandemic. In Western Massachusetts alone 558 artists reported lost income of $4,901,683. NAC is grateful to the many artists who are using this time to create and support our local community online. The Board would like to award as much money in artist relief as possible; to that end, we invite members of the community to donate to our artist relief fund via this MightyCause campaign.

The COVID-19 Artist Relief Grant opportunity is in place of the ArtsEZ Grant Round that is typically offered by the Northampton Arts Council each spring. Northampton Arts Council is allocating $10,000 to the second COVID-19 Artist Relief Grant fund. The Board would like to award as much money in artist relief as possible. We invite members of the community to donate to our artist relief fund via this MightyCause campaign. All funds raised here will be distributed through this grant round. 

HOW TO HELP

• DONATE NOW, even if it’s a small amount. Every dollar helps.
• SHARE/POST this fundraiser with a personal message about why this campaign matters to you. There are tools to do this above.
• INVITE people in your network to donate.
• TAG folks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter that might be able to help spread the word.
• Join our Facebook group for more information and updates.
• Like our Facebook page.
• Follow us on Instagram: @nohoarts
• Follow us on Twitter: @nohoartscouncil
• Email us admin@northamptonartscouncil.org with feedback/ suggestions on how we can better support artists.