The third installment looking at the evolving emergency arts relief landscape. (You can read the first two HERE and HERE. The next story will focus on national funds, which includes a number of writer/journalist programs.)

The biggest news on the ARTS GRANTS FUND front from this past week was the announcement of the far-reaching, reasonably well-funded, Artist Relief Project for artists, musicians and performers impacted by the pandemic. Requests for support are so high, especially at their national scale, that their resources are being stretched, but also sustained by donations and partnerships with existing foundations like the Sundance Institute. It’s definitely worth looking into.

Closer to home, Los Angeles is still not up to the level of civic and private sector support for artists and galleries such as what’s happening in New York and San Francisco. However the DCA is offering help for performing artists, and an increasing number of regional funds are popping up in Long Beach, San Diego and other communities. For example, L.A.’s 4th District (Sherman Oaks, Griffith Park, Miracle Mile) Councilmember David Ryu announced plans to redirect about $1.2 million from its arts development fees into relief grants for artists. The Artists’ Benevolence Fund exists to help artists living in Laguna Beach.

The J. Paul Getty Trust’s L.A. Arts COVID-19 Relief Fund got a lot of attention when it was announced, but the truth is that its $10 million war chest is earmarked for “nonprofit museums and visual arts organizations,” which is not a bad thing, in that it will it allow these venues to continue their work, which includes supporting artists. But it’s quasi-curated and a little but trickle-down, so the effects of its largesse will not necessarily be felt right away.

The L.A. 2050 people keep an updated list of arts-based resources, volunteer opportunities, and progressive civic and urban discourse. Now more than ever it’s a good time to be aware of what they do and their focus on design-forward social engagement and community renewal projects. The new L.A. Art Workers Relief Fund was just announced, and is in the fundraising phase of a program that will help the employees, installers, and program runners at paused institutions.

The L.A. Young Creatives Fund is offering zero-interest micro-loans to L.A. County artists between 18-30 years old. The Los Angeles-based Dance Resource Center has helpfully aggregated a slate of grants and programs specifically offered to the dance community. Los Angeles-based CONTRA-TIEMPO is in the fundraising phase of what will become a relief fund for the dance community as well.

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CALLS FOR ART in the Los Angeles area include the L.A. Press Club contest and emergency grants for journalists that we posted about earlier, and which is still taking submissions through May 1st.

Amplifier Global Open Call for Art. This campaign partners art curators and public-health advisors from around the world and is soliciting “Two kinds of work: Public health and safety messages that can help flatten the curve through education; and symbols that help promote mental health, well-being, and social change work during these stressful times.” Submissions are open through April 30th.

The El Segundo Museum of Art (ESMOA)’s “Art in the Time of COVID-19” open call for photography invites everyone to share their experiences through an online “community art wall…reflecting some aspect of the coronavirus experience and produced during the period of the outbreak.” Submissions are open through April 30th.

Now Art L.A. wants to help boost your livestreaming art events during this time. On their Facebook page, they posted “How are you furthering your art practice during this time of isolation? Are you hosting or participating in a live stream session or creating site specific work for a digital platform? Send us a message and tag #nowartla in your livestreams!”

Take care out there.

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