Coronavirus: Paid sick days for artists?
Some of my artist friends can’t afford sick days — or recovery time, for that matter.
Artist Sarah Meranda of Magpie Mouse Studios (photo from her Instagram feed)
For example, my jewelry artist friend Sarah Meranda usually earns a living from art events and gift shops that stock her work. But many of those events have been postponed or canceled, and other venues are temporarily closed, due to a ban on large public gatherings. Like a lot of artists, she’s concerned about covering bills for the immediate future. I’ve found two potential resources to help artists like her — direct EMERGENCY HELP.
Seattle-area aid
Author & artist relief fund organizer Ijeoma Oluo
Seattle “writer, speaker, and Internet Yeller” Ijeoma Oluo is raising money through GoFundMe to help local artists who’ve been hit hard by events and gigs canceled due to COVID-19. The fundraiser page says her team has already sent financial help to at least 60 artists so far. From the GoFundMe page:
This fund is aimed at helping those in the greater Seattle arts community who have been financially impacted by cancellations due to COVID-19, with priority given to BIPOC [Black & indigenous people of color] artists, transgender & nonbinary artists, and disabled artists - but we will try to help as many artists with need in Seattle as we can.
If you’re an artist: take a short survey to tell the artist relief fund what you need. Application is here.
If you want to help an artist: PLEASE DONATE NOW. Find that page here.
Artist aid from outside Washington state
The Rauschenberg Foundation is partnering with the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) to provide the Rauschenberg Emergency Grants. Funding is available to American visual artists, media artists and choreographers. From the NYFA website:
The fund provides one-time cash grants of up to $5,000 to cover expenses caused by one-time, unexpected medical emergencies. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to: hospital and doctor bills (including insurance co-pays), tests, physical/occupational therapy, prescription drugs specifically for the emergency medical condition, and emergency dental work.
If you’re an artist: APPLY NOW. Grants will be awarded beginning in late May. Find the application info here.
If you want to add to the fund: Donate at the NYFA website. The page allows you to instruct NYFA on where you want the donation to go.
Sarah (right) and Katie Votava at the 2019 Fresh Paint art festival in Everett, WA
These resources don’t replace health insurance, of course — but many artists can’t afford insurance on a good day, let alone during a pandemic. Even if their online shops are thriving, very few artists can support themselves through that one income source. If you want to support them in a tangible way, please go to the above websites now and help an artist take a much-needed break.
