$10 million artist relief fund launched during pandemic

With concerts canceled, art galleries closed and theaters dark because of COVID-19 concerns, many artists are struggling financially.

To help, seven separate arts organizations, including the Miami-based National YoungArts Foundation, have teamed up to create a $10 million multidisciplinary, direct-to-artist relief fund.

The coalition, which also includes the Academy of American Poets, Artadia, Creative Capital, Foundation for Contemporary Arts, MAP Fund and United States Artists, was announced Wednesday.

Artists from any discipline, including arts journalists, can apply for $5,000 Artist Relief grants through a process, which opens up Wednesday.

An applicant must be 21 years old, live and work in the U.S. and show financial need.

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation provided $5 million for the fund. Foundations nationwide matched that.

Miami-Dade County’s approximately 44,000 arts-related employees have found themselves with no income and few places to work, as the museums, theaters and galleries have closed amid the coronavirus.

The National YoungArts Foundation, which supports accomplished young artists in the visual, literary and performing arts, has dedicated more than $250,000 to create a YoungArts Alumni Emergency Microgrant program. The program is aimed at supporting YoungArts alumni who have lost income because of COVID-19.

Alumni can apply for $1,000 grants that will be distributed in three cycles over the next three months, from April through June. Recipients will be selected by a lottery system.

Carli Teproff: 305-376-3587, @cteproff