Disaster Relief Resources for California Artists & Communities
Updated: 09-25-2020
The California Arts Council maintains this webpage dedicated to resources for Californians who have been affected by recent natural disasters in our state. Page content is regularly updated as new information becomes available.
The Actors Fund: The Actors Fund offers a wide variety of emergency services to artists associated with the entertainment industry. Contact the Actors Fund Western Region at (323) 933-9244, ext. 55 or email intakela@actorsfund.org.
Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Assistance Program: The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic 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. Visit the foundation website for eligibility, instructions, and application.
Artists At Risk Connection: A global directory of resources to help artists. ARC's definition of "artist" is inclusive. They serve visual artists, musicians, filmmakers, performance artists, writers, and other individuals who produce significant creative output in any medium.
CERF+: Started by artists for artists in the craft community as a grassroots mutual aid effort in 1985, CERF+ has since emerged as the leading nonprofit organization that uniquely focuses on safeguarding artists’ livelihoods nationwide. CERF+ serves artists who work in craft disciplines by providing a safety net of support through resources and information, career protection tools, and emergency readiness and relief. Visit the CERF+ website to learn more.
Jazz Foundation of America: Emergency assistance to jazz and blues musicians. Email info@jazzfoundation.org or call (212) 245-3999.
The Joan Mitchell Foundation: The Joan Mitchell Foundation's Emergency Grant Program is available for visual artists who have suffered physical losses due to a natural disaster that relate to their artistic practice. Click here to learn more.
MusiCares: MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. A directory of resources for musicians and other artists is available on the MusiCares website.
Music Rising: Music Rising is a natural disaster reserve fund for schools that lose musical instruments that cannot be replaced via insurance or FEMA. To apply, email MusicRising@mhopus.org or call (818) 762-4328.
Pollock-Krasner Foundation Emergency Relief Fund: Deeply concerned for the welfare of artists affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, as well as the California wildfires, the Pollock-Krasner Foundation is currently accepting emergency requests for grants to professional visual artists who have been directly impacted with losses and/or damages by these recent disasters. Details and application available here.
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants: One-time grants of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical/dental/mental health emergencies. Emergencies are defined as taking place within the last six months (January 1, 2020 or later). Grants are available to visual and media artists and choreographers who live anywhere in the U.S., its Territories, and the District of Columbia. Artists of color, artists with disabilities, and those living outside of the East and West coasts are particularly encouraged to apply. The program does not cover lost wages/income. The July/August application cycle closes Monday, August 31, 2020. Full details are available here.
Employment Development Department: The California Employment Development Department (EDD) provides a variety of services to individuals and businesses impacted by disasters in California. These range from assistance for those who may have lost a job due to the disaster, to employers who are forced to shut down operations. EDD staff located throughout the state are often called upon to lend a hand at Local Assistance Centers (LACs) established by the California Office of Emergency Services (OES). They provide assistance with filing claims for UI benefits, as well as job search assistance and other more general support and referrals to resources.
- For statewide wildfire recovery resources, visit the CalOES Wildfire Recovery website.
- For information about any LACs established in a disaster area and their hours of operation, visit CalOES.
- For California’s online job exchange system, visit CalJOBS.
For the latest news and announcements, including news releases, visit the EDD News page.
Federal Individual Disaster Assistance Program:
If and when individual assistance money is approved for these disaster declarations, information will be made available here. Information is updated every 24 hours.
DisasterAssistance.gov: Apply for disaster assistance and find local resources for your immediate needs.
CAL FIRE: The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is our state's go-to resources for up-to-date wildfire information and resources. www.calfire.ca.gov
Response.ca.gov is a state website that combines emergency response, recovery and resilience information into a single place for easy access by users. It is a one-stop portal that includes local and state resources, health services, shelters and housing, preparedness information, and more.
COVID19.ca.gov: The Governor's Office has launched a new comprehensive, consumer-friendly website that highlights critical steps people can take to stay healthy and resources available to Californians impacted by the outbreak, including paid sick leave and unemployment assistance.
COVID-19 News & Resources: The California Arts Council maintains a separate webpage dedicated specifically to resources aimed at response and recovery for the COVID-19 pandemic, including emergency funding opportunities, emergency preparedness best practices, and webinars featuring arts leaders and artists from the national arts community. Page content is updated as new information becomes available.
More information on California's emergency response to state natural disasters is available at the Governor's Office of Emergency Services website.
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons, U.S. Department of Agriculture