NYFA Source | Hurricane Florence Resources Round-Up

Help is available for artists in the Carolinas, Virginia, and other areas affected by Hurricane Florence. 

Finding the right recovery resources in times of need can be difficult and stressful. As the East Coast begins its rebuilding effort, we rounded-up organizations that can offer you the assistance you need to begin this challenging process. Along with general emergency relief, here are a few resources that address the specific needs of artists in such situations. 

Find Help Through NYFA Source 

Additional information on Current Disaster Resources, Emergency Grants, Legal Resources, Public Assistance, and more can be found on NYFA Source, an online arts database with over 12,000 resources and opportunities for artists in all disciplines. Artists can also call the NYFA Source Hotline at (800) 232-2789, from Monday – Friday, 3:00 – 5:00 PM EST or email [email protected].

Power of Social Media

Keeping an eye on your social media feeds is also a good way of gaining access to information. For those in South Carolina, Richland Library listed several Twitter accounts to follow for live updates. They include local news outlets, and local and state government entities. For other regions, see FEMA’s round-up of social media channels to monitor.

Government Assistance

Natural disasters like hurricanes can lead to loss of income from your practice or business, and/or loss of property. Individuals in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Florence might be eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA). Information about other impacted states hasn’t been disclosed yet. To apply for Disaster Assistance, scroll down through FEMA’s Hurricane Florence Portal.

Loans and other assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available for affected areas in the East Coast. If you need help in these application processes, read CERF+’s Tips for Working with FEMA + SBA. 

Additionally, check the IRS for potential tax relief for those affected by the hurricane. For other information, including what to do when returning home, avoiding charity fraud and false rumors, and more, check USA.gov. 

Arts and Culture-Specific Resources

Check this post in the coming weeks for updates and added resources as the recovery process continues. *Updated October 12, 2018

• Actors Fund of America Emergency Assistance: For all performing artists and those working in entertainment. Eligible individuals can apply online for assistance, and individuals affected by Hurricane Florence can also contact the New York City office, at (212) 221-7300, ext. 119 or [email protected].
• Alliance of Artists Communities Emergency Funds for Individual Artists: The fund disburses mini-grants of up to $1,000 to artists who have already been accepted and scheduled for a residency, but who would not otherwise be able to participate due to a sudden change in circumstances. The Alliance also serves artists affected by natural disasters by mobilizing its network of residency programs to offer residencies to eligible artists. This process is activated as-needed, and will be announced by the Alliance online, through CERF+, and throughout its network.
• American Society of Journalists and Authors: Offers The Writers Emergency Assistance Fund, which helps established freelance writers who, because of illness, disability, a natural disaster, or an extraordinary professional crisis are unable to work.
• Artists’ Charitable Fund: Artists who need financial assistance because of medical, fire, or other disaster should email Fund Coordinator Judy Archibald at [email protected] or call her at (970) 577-0509.
• Artists’ Fellowship, Inc. Financial Assistance: Provides emergency aid to professional fine artists and their families in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement, or unexpected extreme hardship.
• Authors League Fund: Provides assistance to professional writers and dramatists who find themselves in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune.
• Book Industry Charitable Foundation Immediate and Post Disaster Assistance: Assists with specific unforeseen emergency financial needs of a bookstore employee and their immediate family members living in the same household.
• Broadcasters Foundation of America: To be considered for the program, applicants must work in radio and/or television broadcasting and be in acute financial need due to hardships faced by a recent hurricane, flood or other natural disaster. 
• Carnegie Fund for Authors: Awards grants to published authors who are in need of emergency financial assistance.
• CERF+ Emergency Financial Relief: Provides financial assistance for eligible artists who work in craft disciplines, and tips for safety and studio protection for artists of all disciplines. Application guidelines are available in Spanish. CERF+ has also compiled a comprehensive guide to recovery from Hurricane Florence.
• Dramatists Guild Fund Kesselring Emergency Grant: Awards one-time emergency grants to individual playwrights, lyricists, and composers in need of temporary financial assistance due to unexpected illness or extreme hardship.
• Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (FAIC): The free Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel Mobile App is designed for anyone in need of practical advice for saving collections or items in the first 48 hours after a disaster. Additionally, the National Heritage Responders Hotline can be reached 24/7 at (202) 661-8068 for conservation advice and referrals.
• Hero Initiative Grants: Provides assistance for eligible comic book writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists, or letterers on a work-for-hire basis.
• Jazz Foundation of America Jazz Musicians Housing and Emergency Assistance Program: Provides a wide range of social services for jazz musicians.
• Joan Mitchell Foundation Emergency Grant: Emergency support to artists working in the mediums of painting, sculpture, and/or drawing after natural or manmade disasters.
• Motion Picture and Television Fund: Provides temporary emergency financial assistance to qualified industry members experiencing financial hardship due to illness, disability, unemployment, or other reasons.
• MusiCares® Emergency Financial Assistance: This program is available to music people who have experienced an unavoidable emergency. Eligibility consists of documented employment in the music industry for at least five years or credited contribution to six commercially released recordings or videos. Contact the MusiCares South Region Office at 1-877-626-2748.
• Musicians Foundation Support: Provides aid for musicians of any genre in a time of acute need, due to personal, medical, dental, or family crisis, natural disaster, or other emergency situation.
• North Carolina Arts Council: The North Carolina Arts Council has gathered national and statewide resources for artists and arts organizations; find those resources here.
• PEN Writers’ Emergency Fund: Provides emergency funding for professional—published or produced—writers in acute, emergency financial crisis.
• Pioneers Assistance Fund (PAF): Serves members of the motion picture entertainment industry (exhibition, distribution, and trade services) who are encountering an illness, injury, or life-changing event. All assistance is intended to provide support during a recovery or adjustment period and lay the foundation for a lifetime of ongoing success.
• Rhythm & Blues Foundation Financial Assistance: Provides financial and medical assistance to Rhythm & Blues artists of the 1940s through the 1970´s, as well as a support system to help identify other sources of assistance.
• SAG-AFTRA Disaster Relief for Members Affected by Hurricane Florence: The SAG-AFTRA Foundation and the SAG-AFTRA Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund have created a special Disaster Relief Fund to provide urgent financial support to members affected by the recent hurricane and flooding. They are partnering with The Actors Fund to administer the relief efforts on the ground, ensuring all SAG-AFTRA members receive the help they need.
• South Carolina Arts Commission: The South Carolina Arts Commission has gathered recovery and preparedness resources for artists and arts organizations.
• The Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Grant: Provides interim financial assistance to qualified artists whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation.
• The 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. Your application and supporting documentation for the current round of grants must be received by November 10, 2018.

How You Can Help

As eager as we are to help those in need when a disaster happens, be mindful of what you donate and to whom you donate. Before lending a helping hand, make sure to read these Guidelines for Giving from the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI). Pages like Charity Navigator’s Relief for Hurricane Florence are a good place to research reputable charities, from food banks to animal care. To learn how to help local artists, please revisit this post at a later time. We’ll come back with additional information as soon as we learn more. 

To find more resources and opportunities, use NYFA Source, a free searchable database of 12,000+ awards, residencies, and services.

– Luiza Teixeira-Vesey, Designer and Marketing Associate

Image: Gabe Brown (Fellow in Painting ‘18), Red Hot, 2016, oil on linen over wood panel (detail)