Last updated: October 21, 2021.
To support poets, writers, and artists during the COVID-19 crisis, the Academy of American Poets joined Artist Relief, a coalition of national arts grantmakers to create an emergency initiative that offered financial and informational resources to artists across the United States. Artist Relief raised $25 million, beginning with seed funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and then an important lead gift from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. In total, Artist Relief operated 13 cycles of funding from April 2020 to June 2021 that supported 5,000 artists with $5,000 emergency relief grants. Applications for Artist Relief are now closed.
For more information about best practices for virtual events, visit this page.
Nationwide Emergency Funds for Poets, Writers, and Artists
Alliance of Artists Communities Emergency Funds for Individual Artists Participating in Residencies
American Society of Journalists and Authors Writers Emergency Assistance Fund
Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund (Note: This emergency fund is on pause and will reopen in the fall.)
Disabled Creatives & Activists Relief Fund
Dramatists Guild Foundation Emergency Grants
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants
PEN America Writers' Emergency Fund
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants
Location-based Emergency Funds for Poets, Writers, and Artists
Booth Emergency Fund for Writers (Oregon)
Canadian Writers' Emergency Relief Fund
Chicago Creative Worker Assistance Program
City Artist Corps Grants (New York City)
Creating Our Future Dallas Low Income Artist Relief Fund
Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Emergency Fund for Artists
Indy Arts & Culture COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund
Resources for Poets, Writers, and Artists
COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
Creative Capital - List of Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak
It's Going Down: COVID-19 Mutual Aid
National Endowment for the Arts: COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
Mental Health Resources
National Institute of Mental Health: Supporting Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Stress and Coping During Covid-19
Mental Health America: Covid-19 Information and Resources
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Emotional Wellbeing During the Covid-19 Outbreak
NYC COVID Care Network (New York City)
If you’re experiencing emotional distress related to COVID-19, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or your local crisis line.
Resources for Arts and Culture Organizations
Alliance of Artists Communities COVID-19 Preparedness for Residencies
Americans for the Arts Resource and Response Center
Best Practices for Virtual Events and Readings
City of Seattle: COVID-19: Resources for Community
Coronavirus Resources for Booksellers
Creative Capital: List of Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Grantmakers in the Arts: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and Arts Funding
I Care If You Listen: COVID-19 Emergency Funding and Artist Resources
National Endowment for the Arts: COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
A Quick Guide to Starting an Emergency Relief Fund from Springboard for the Arts