Arts and Culture: Financial Assistance
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National
State Listings:
(Official USPS State Abbreviations)
National
American Society of Journalists and Authors Writers Emergency Assistance Fund maintains a database of resources for writers in need. Writers Emergency Assistance Fund (WEAF) is to help established freelance writers who, because of advanced age, illness, disability, a natural disaster, or an extraordinary professional crisis are unable to work. A writer need not be a member of ASJA to qualify for a grant, however, applicants must establish a record of past professional freelance nonfiction writing over a sustained period of years, which means qualifications generally similar to those of ASJA members. WEAF was formerly the Llewellyn Miller Fund and is administered through the Charitable Trust of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.
performing musicians and composers may be eligible for grants from these organizations.
Carnegie Fund for Authors offers grants to authors in need, including those with disabilities. Emergency assistance is to writers in financial need who have commercially published at least one book of reasonable length which has received reader acceptance. No website is available. For more information contact the Carnegie Fund for Authors, PO Box 409, Lenox Hill Station, New York, NY 10021 or call 516.877.2141, or mail to: Carnegie Fund for Authors, 1 Old Country Rd., Carle Place, NY 11514.
Haven Foundation
gives financial assistance to provide temporary
support needed to safeguard and sustain the careers of established
freelance artists, writers and other members of the arts and art
production communities who have suffered disabilities or experienced a
career-threatening illness, accident, natural disaster or personal
catastrophe. Grants are awarded and renewed at the discretion of the
Haven Foundation Board.
Petrillo Memorial Fund, started in 1951 with a $10,000 personal contribution from then-President James C. Petrillo in memory of his late son, the Lester Petrillo Memorial Fund for Disabled Musicians is a charitable trust fund that provides financial aid to disabled members. This fund is not intended to replace health insurance or provide general loans, but does supply modest amounts of assistance to qualified applicants on an emergency basis.
No benefits shall be paid to or on behalf of a person who is not physically or mentally disabled (as that term is defined by the Trustees) and who is not a member in good standing of the AFM. See the website for the eligibility form. For additional information, please contact the Federation at (212) 869-1330 ext. 224.
PEN American Center's Writer's Emergency Fund
is an emergency fund for professional published or produced writers in acute, emergency financial crisis. No membership necessary. Depending on the situation, the Fund gives grants of up to $2,000. The maximum amount is given only under especially dire circumstances and when monies are available. It is the Fund's preference not to give repeated grants within a three-year period. For more information and a downloadable application visit the website above.
PEN America Literary Awards, Grants, and Fellowships Program is a comprehensive list of grants available to writers. With the help of our partners, PEN America confers distinct grants each year to support writers and works-in-progress in diverse genres including translation, YA and middle grade writing, and oral history. PEN America also offers a robust national program of fellowships for emerging writers and writing for justice. In addition, PEN America provides community engagement funding to Members, writers, and allies to support activity around press freedom defense, the intersections of literature and advocacy, and the defense of free expression more broadly. Contact PEN America for more information.
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling to make ends meet while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems. In other words, Healing Musicians in Need. We all have received so much out of music, it's time to give a little back!
Women Arts: Emergency Funds - for Artists in All Art Forms have compiled a fairly comprehensive list of funding resources for artists in all art forms, plus Writers, Musicians and Visual Artists. Visit this page to find eligibility requirements and locations.
State Listings
California
UCLA's National Arts and Disabilities Center administers the California Art Council’s Arts and Accessibility Technical Assistance Program Grant will make available grants up to $500 for professional development and/or technical assistance activities. The funded activities are to support efforts in making arts programs and services accessible to people with disabilities. The activities and requests could include, but are not limited to:
- Leasing or renting of ramps, or assistive listening devices.
- Hiring of sign language interpreters.
- Audio description services and devices.
- Creating alternative formats for materials such as: large print brochures, Braille, printed materials, cassette tapes, and/or captioning.
- Professional development for artists and staff to attend conferences that focus on issues of the arts and accessibility.
- Organizing a local meeting bringing together interested grantees and community members to discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or to address specific access needs within the arts community.
Organizations and individuals in California are eligible to apply. There are limited funds available for this program. Artists may apply for grants of between $500 and $1,000 to further their professional development or increase the visibility of their work. The CAC does not fund capital expenditures or purchasing of equipment. You may apply up to two times a year for the 2003-2004 term. Send applications to:
Dr. Olivia Raynor, Director
The National Arts and Disability Center
University of California Los Angeles
300 UCLA Medical Plaza, St. 3310
Los Angeles, CA 90095-6967
Phone: (310) 794-1141
Fax: (310) 794-1143
e-mail: oraynor@mednet.ucla.edu
New York
Artists Fellowship, Inc. Yearly, between 65 and 75 professional fine artists in urgent situations receive aid from the Fellowship. Most of the emergencies involved health-related issues, accidents, financial crisis or bereavement. Some of their recipients receive aid one time only, while other infirmed artists receive continuing support, mostly in the New York area. The application for financial assistance form is designed to be printed from your web browser. You may also obtain the application directly from Artists' Fellowship, Inc. by writing to request a copy. The Artists ’ Fellowship, Inc., 47 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10003, or call 212-255-7740 (Salmagundi Club) dial ext. #216 for Artists’ Fellowship or send e-mail to info@artistsfellowship.orgOhio
Ohio Arts Council offers grants to support professional development for artists with disabilities. The Artists with Disabilities Access Program (ADAP) Professional Development Support for Artists with Disabilities provides
funding that gives individual artists with disabilities and organizations that serve them
the resources they need to further their artistic development. Creative expression by artists of all abilities is essential to building dynamic and diverse
communities throughout Ohio, and developing an artistic career
is a long-term process. ADAP awards help artists with disabilities
advance their artistic practices, making Ohio a more accessible
and inclusive place to build an artistic career.
Grants are awarded to individual artists at both
the emerging artist level ($500) and professional artist level
($1,000), with no match required. Organizational applicants may
request between $1,000 and $3,000. Grant deadlines are June 1 and December 1 respectively.
For more information visit the pdf above.
Texas
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians offers medical, dental and mental health services for uninsured musicians. If you are an uninsured, professional musician in the Austin-area, you may be eligible for low-cost primary health care, basic dental care, mental health, hearing and vision health services through HAAM, Health Alliance for Austin Musicians. For more information, visit the website.
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