Houston Endowment boosts Artists Relief Fund
The Houston Endowment has pledged $100,000 to the Greater Houston Area Artists Relief Fund, the largest gift to date for an effort launched in early April to provide financial support to artists and other arts professionals whose livelihoods have been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The grant reflects the endowment’s ongoing commitment to support and sustain Houston’s arts community, said president and CEO Ann Stern. “This is about giving a much-needed lifeline to Houston artists that serve as the lifeblood of this vibrant, ever-evolving city. We encourage others to join us in this critical charge during this unprecedented time.”
As of Monday morning, other donations to the fund totaled more than $80,600, and more than 310 individuals had applied
for its grants, which are limited to $1,000. As federal support begins to arrive, many artists are still unable to qualify for unemployment, and their needs continue to soar.
“Until we can connect them to longer-lasting support systems, this fund will help them feed their families, stay safe in their homes, and stay healthy,” said Leigh Smith, board chair of the Houston Arts Alliance, which is managing the fund.
The endowment has deployed parallel efforts for other COVID-19 relief efforts, including up to $2 million for the Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund, including the lead gift of $1 million and a challenge grant of an additional $1 million to encourage giving by others. The challenge grant contributes another $1 for every $4 given. The Houston Endowment also has provided capacity-building support to the resource, findchildcarenow.org, which aims to ease the burden for essential workers in Houston who are struggling to find child care.