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34 Grants For US-Based Photographers & Artists Impacted by COVID-19
According to research conducted by Artist Relief, a coalition of seven U.S. arts grantmakers, and co-presented with Americans for the Arts, 95% of artists have reported lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic, with 62% becoming unemployed because of the crisis.
Like the art world as a whole, the photo industry is facing unprecedented challenges right now, but over the last several months, we’ve also seen communities, groups, and organizations come together to support and fund photographers.
With that rallying spirit in mind, we compiled this quick guide to 34 grants and funds for photographers and artists. You’ll find a few big names in here, but you’ll also find smaller, statewide initiatives from local community organizations. As the months pass, new opportunities are sure to emerge, so use this list as a point of departure, and feel free to add to it over time.
500px Photographer Relief Fund
“As one of the leaders in the online photography industry, we want to show our support to photographers affected,” the 500px team writes of this fund. If you’ve been affected by the crisis financially or emotionally, you can submit your work for consideration, as long as it was created in 2020. They want to hear your stories, and they will be awarding the Relief Fund to photographers based on a photo(s) submitted with an emphasis on the personal essay. Four photographers will be chosen to receive funds.
Amount: $1,000 each
Application fee: None
Deadline: September 30, 2020
This emergency initiative from a coalition of national arts grantmakers offers financial and informational resources to artists (including photographers) working in the United States during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
Amount: $5,000
Application fee: None
Deadline: September 2020
Joan Mitchell Foundation’s Emergency Grants Artist Relief
In response to the unprecedented scale of the COVID-19 crisis, the Joan Mitchell Foundation has increased and reallocated the Joan Mitchell Foundation’s Emergency Grants budget to Artist Relief, a national, multidisciplinary initiative offering rapid, unrestricted funding of $5,000 to individual artists in all disciplines.
Amount: up to $5,000
Application fee: None
Deadline: August 26, 2020
Artists Now was created by Zoo Labs to bring financial support to those artists directly affected by the economic challenges caused by COVID-19, specifically POC, Women, and LGBTQIA+ artists, so that they can continue to create art. Applicants must live in the Bay Area.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
The Atlanta Artist Lost Gig Fund
The Atlanta Artist Lost Gig Fund is designed to provide financial assistance to Atlanta area artists who have unmet essential needs due to lost revenue from canceled upcoming events and gigs. This fund is open to arts workers of any discipline including arts administrators, visual artists, craft artisans, performing artists of all kinds, musicians, writers, and all others.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Ip to $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
This initiative from the non-profit Artly World is designed to provide emergency cash mini-grants, programs, and resources to artists of any discipline who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
Amount: Varies
Application fee: None
Deadline: Rolling
Arts Emergency Relief Fund (Austin)
In response to the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic, the Austin Creative Alliance has established The Artists Emergency Relief Fund to help artists in Greater Austin maintain their personal and financial stability in these uncertain times. While repayment is not required, an artist who receives funding through the Artists Emergency Relief Fund will be asked to contribute to the ACA community by donating artistic work, creative services, or volunteer time.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Up to $500
Application fee: None
Max’s Kansas City Emergency Grant
The Max’s Kansas City project provides emergency funding and resources to professionals in the creative arts. Funding is for individuals who have made their living through their art form either professionally or personally and demonstrate a financial need for medical aid, legal aid, or housing. Funding is determined according to the individual’s need and based on a sliding scale according to each individual’s specific case.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Up to $1,000
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
The Artist Relief Trust is a coalition-led initiative to provide emergency assistance to artists who have lost work due to Coronavirus / COVID-19 and related closures and cancellations. Though applicants must demonstrate that they are working artists, there is no review of their artwork — awards are based on need.
Amount: $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
The Creative Impact: Capital Region Artist Fund
This fund will focus on the Capital Region of New York State to alleviate hardships for individual artists. Demands for gigs, gallery work, performances, exhibitions, commissioned projects, workshops, and art sales have all rapidly declined over the past couple weeks and for the unforeseeable future. This fund was created to help alleviate some of the financial stress many are enduring.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Payments to artists will be in the form of $100 Visa Gift Cards and will continue to be distributed to artists until funds have been depleted.
Application fee: None
Deadline: Rolling until funds depleted
Emergency Fund For Hillsboro County Artists
Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts (TBBCA) welcomes qualified applicants to be considered for Hillsborough Artists Relief Program (HARP). Applicants must demonstrate urgent need for emergency funds due to the novel coronavirus crisis. The intent for this fund is to provide financial assistance to Hillsborough County artists who are temporarily unable to meet their basic needs.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
For 2020, Propeller Fund is adapting its annual project-based re-granting program to focus on providing short-term financial support to artists who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This one is open to artists in the Chicagoland area with a practice grounded in the visual arts.
Priority consideration will go to communities that are impacted disproportionately including: ALAANA artists (African descendent, Latinx, Arab, Asian, Native American), d/Deaf and disabled artists, LGBTQ2SIA+ artists, and gender non-conforming and non-binary artists.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: Round Three is open August 24 at 9am, CDT – August 27 at 5pm, CDT
Round Four is open October 26 at 9am, CDT – October 29 at 5pm, CDT
This fund seeks to provide support for low-income, BIPOC, trans/GNC/NB/Queer artists and freelancers whose livelihoods are being affected by the pandemic in Dallas, whether it’s from canceled gigs, lost jobs, or a lack of business due to coronavirus scares.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Varies
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
The Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund is intended to help those pursuing careers as artists or arts administrators whose income has been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund is for those who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and are based in the US.
Amount: $200
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Spokane Artists & Creatives Fund
The focus of this fund is to support individual creatives who rely on income from gigs, performances, teaching opportunities, workshops and classes to cover basic expenses like housing, food, and medical care.
This is a local grant.
Amount: up to $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: Rolling until funds depleted
In an effort to sustain Black women’s contributions in the art industry during the COVID -19, TILA Studios has launched a recurring monthly fund beginning at $1,000 to support Black women artists nationwide. They plan to grow the monthly fund to $10,000 month over month in order to distribute $50,000 by August 2020 that will support 80+Black Women Artists.
Amount: $1,000
Application fee: None
Deadline: The funding will occur monthly from April 2020 until August 2020. If the fund continues to witness and experience the economic impact of the COVID-19, they will continue awarding an unrestricted financial award until January 2021.
Women Photojournalists of Washington
Women Photojournalists of Washington has re-opened applications to their emergency fund for members who are facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic. They are now accepting applications from WPOW members to receive emergency funds that will help with financial setbacks that may have incurred as a result of lost work or medical issues during this time of crisis. Financial assistance is available only to those who live and work in the DMV area.
This is a local grant open to members.
Amount: Varies
Application fee: None
Deadline: Rolling
2020 Emergency Arts Relief Grant
Emergency Arts Relief Grants provide financial support to creative individuals and community groups who have experienced lost income from the postponement and/or cancellation of specific, scheduled opportunities or programs due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This grant program is administered by The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes with funding and support by the Corning Incorporated Foundation, the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, and local community members.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Up to $250 per lost income opportunity or program are available
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Emergency Relief Fund for Charlottesville-area artists
This Fund supports Charlottesville-area artists who have lost income due to the cancellation of specific, scheduled gigs or opportunities (commissions, performances, contracts, other jobs/loss of income) due to Coronavirus/COVID-19 precautionary measures.
This is a local grant.
Amount: up to $300
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Durham Artists Relief Grant
This fund goes to artists and arts presenters in Durham who have been financially impacted by cancellations due to COVID-19, with priority given to BIPOC artists, transgender & nonbinary artists, and disabled artists.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Varies
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
The Art Report, Facebook, and Untitled, Art have partnered to provide financial assistance for freelance, hourly, and wage working artists vulnerable to the economic standstill. Funds of $250 per member of household will be distributed in an effort to support the security and protection of artists who, in “normal times,” hold part-time or contract work to prioritize their art practice.
Funds support basic human needs such as mental health counseling, healthcare
reimbursements not covered by insurance, childcare, food, or rent, for example. Artists must have graduated from a Bay Area institution or have lived in the Bay Area for two years as a working artist to be eligible.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $250
Application fee: None
Deadline: The first round of applications was due on March 31, 2020, but will continue
quarterly.
FCA Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund
In light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the artist community, the Foundation for Contemporary Arts created this temporary fund to meet the needs of experimental artists who have been impacted by the economic fallout from postponed or canceled performances and exhibitions. The Foundation will disburse one-time $2,000 grants to artists who have had performances or exhibitions canceled or postponed because of the pandemic.
Amount: $2,000
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Wichita Creatives Emergency Relief Fund
The Wichita Creatives Emergency Relief Fund was created for individuals working in the arts sector that have been impacted by the current public health crisis. The primary concern is for the health and well-being of individuals: specifically, independent artists, musicians, and performers. All applicants must live in Sedgwick County or contribute to the Sedgwick County/Wichita Arts Community.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Varies
Application fee: None
This creative industry fund from Hear Fort Worth and Film Fort Worth, with assistance from United Way of Tarrant County, supports musicians, artists, performers and filmmakers who have lost work due to COVID-19. The fund is open to local Fort Worth musicians, filmmakers and artists.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $300
Application fee: None
Deadline: Funds will be distributed on a first come, first served basis.
Crosshatch Artist Emergency Fund
Founded in 2005, Crosshatch explores the intersections of farming, art, economy and ecology. The Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology has raised and distributed over $25,000 in emergency aid to artists in Northwest Lower Michigan.
They are able to fund individual artists (not non-profits or institutions) who earn 33% or more of their income from their art, who have lost income because of COVID-19 related cancellations, and who live in one of the eligible counties.
This is a local grant.
Amount: up to $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: Rolling until funds depleted
The NWMAC Artist Grants for COVID-19 Relief
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is currently awarding Quick Turn Around grants for COVID-19-related relief for artists in northwest Minnesota. These grants are for $500 for missed gigs and income due to the pandemic.
Performing artists, writers, media artists, fine craft artists, and visual artists can apply if they are a permanent resident of the NWMAC’s seven-county service area of Northwest Minnesota.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Up to $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Chippewa Valley Artist Relief Fund
This fund is open to artists and creatives living in the Chippewa Valley, in need of support amid the coronavirus outbreak. They are currently funding people working in performing arts, visual arts, digital arts and other creative fields.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Up to $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
The East Central Regional Arts Council Grant
The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) developed this COVID-19 emergency response grant to provide funding for artists and art organizations to do art projects online or in other forms during the current shutdown of arts venues.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $600
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Erie Arts & Culture Emergency Financial Assistance Fund
Through the Erie Arts & Culture’s newly formed Emergency Financial Assistance Fund, creative and cultural professionals, which includes artists of all disciplines, who have experienced a disruption to their income stream, can request up to $500 in assistance from Erie Arts & Culture.
Awarded funds can be used to assist with basic living expenses, such as housing, utilities, or groceries.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Ranging from $150 to assist with groceries to $500 to assist with rent.
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Red River Cultural District Grant
Banding Together ATX has secured philanthropic donations to support workers in the music, hospitality, and service industry businesses who have suffered economically as a result of event cancelations and business closures (including music photographers). The funds and subsequent distribution are being managed by the Red River Cultural District (RRCD). While the organization focuses primarily on efforts related to the Red River District of downtown Austin, affected individuals across the city are encouraged to apply.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $100 grocery gift cards
Application fee: None
Deadline: Runs until funding exhausted
NWCT Artist Emergency Relief Fund
This is an emergency fund created by the Torrington Collective for artists and creatives in our community that are in dire need of support. They are identifying people that have already lost their entire source of income and need help immediately.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $100 – $200
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Greater Columbus Arts Council Announces COVID-19 Emergency Relief Grants for Artists
This program from the Greater Columbus Arts Council is designed to assist artists of all disciplines living in Franklin County with the financial impacts of COVID-19, including: recouping financial loss due to cancelled events, including performances, paid speaking engagements, readings, exhibitions, and festival/fairs.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Up to $1,000
Application fee: None
Deadline: Applications reviewed every Wednesday until funds are exhausted
Sierra Arts Foundation Artist Relief Fund
This quick-response fund from the Sierra Arts Foundation will help those in the greater Washoe County region’s art community who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 cancellations and disruption of normal operations. 100% of funds donated will go to the artists and arts organizations who have lost income due to cancellations and work disruption. This is emergency funding to help artists in need with rent, food, utilities and medical needs.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: November 12, 2020
Mecklenburg Creatives Resiliency Fund
The Mecklenburg Creatives Resiliency Fund helps creative practitioners in Mecklenburg County recover from personal emergencies by helping pay an unanticipated, emergency expenses or by augmenting lost income due to the cancellation of a specific, scheduled gig or opportunity (i.e. commissions, performances, contracts) due to Coronavirus/COVID-19 precautionary measures.
This is a local grant.
Amount: $500
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
Emergency Arts Relief Grants of Southern Finger Lakes
Emergency Arts Relief Grants provide financial support to creative individuals and community
groups who have experienced lost income from the postponement and/or cancellation of
specific, scheduled opportunities or programs due to the outbreak of COVID-19. This grant
program is administered by The ARTS Council of the Southern Finger Lakes with funding from
the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes.
This is a local grant.
Amount: Up to $250
Application fee: None
Deadline: None
