COVID-19 Resources

ArtsWA Resources

Like all of you, ArtsWA is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. We are committed to supporting artists, arts organizations and creative communities across Washington State.

ArtsWA has taken the following steps to serve our state’s artists, arts organizations and creative communities:

ArtsWA’s office in Olympia is closed to the public. Staff is available by email and phone to answer any of your questions or concerns.
All of our upcoming panels and public meetings will take place virtually via GoToMeeting.
We are cancelling/postponing all off-site meetings/gatherings.
We will be communicating directly with our grantees about how local, state, or federal restrictions and recommendations impact their grant(s).
We are tracking all COVID-19 related expenses, and encourage others in the arts community to do the same.
We are participating in local and national surveys related to how COVID-19 impacts our work. We encourage you to take the Americans for the Arts Impact Survey.

Our programs are making changes to their operations to best serve Washingtonians, particularly in rural and under-served communities. See info below for specific program updates.

Arts In Education

The Creative Start Site Grant Application deadline has been EXTENDED to Friday, April 3, 2020.
The First Step Grant Application deadline has been EXTENDED to Friday, April 3, 2020.

Art In Public Places

AIPP Collections will be postponing our springtime artwork inventory. Instead, we’ll be reaching out directly to those agencies to ensure that we know if there are any construction impacts for which we need to plan.

If you are an artist with an active ArtsWA project or your campus or agency is in the process of acquiring new artwork, please contact your AIPP project manager with any questions or concerns.

Creative Districts

All planned, on-site presentations, meetings and site visits are suspended until further notice. We are available for phone and video meetings and strategic planning sessions.

Grants to Organizations

We have made a temporary change to our Fiscal Year 2020 grant policy. If your funded project, event, or program has been postponed (not happening before June 30, 2020) or cancelled due to mandates set by the federal government with regards to public gatherings, you are authorized to use your grant funds toward General Operating Support for your organization. This applies to all our Grants To Organizations grant programs: Snap Grants, Levels A, B, C and Cooperative Partnership grants. Contact Miguel Guillén, Grants to Organizations Program Manager: miguel.guillen@arts.wa.gov, for more information.

ArtsWA has received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts to distribute to arts organizations in Washington. We will be accepting applications from April 17 until May 31, 2020 from Washington-based nonprofit arts organizations and fiscally-sponsored arts groups.

For more information about the grant program and to apply, click here.

Washington State Resources

Resources from Washington State, including unemployment, health care, relief funds and more.

On May 1, 2020, Gov. Jay Inslee and the state Department of Health announced:

Extension of the Stay Home order through May 31
New allowances are being worked on to soon allow for retail curbside pickup, automobile sales, car washes, landscaping and house cleaning services, and drive-in spiritual services with one household per vehicle.
A reopening plan that outlines four phases of reopening businesses and resuming activities involving group gatherings, travel, shopping and recreation. The focus is on reopening safely and protecting the health of workers and the general public. (The governor’s official order with more details will be released in the next couple days.)

This is a phased, data-driven approach. All reopening activities depend on continued success in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and meeting four capabilities including:

Health care system readiness
Testing capacity
Ability to do contact investigations
Ability to protect high-risk populations

Every phase will still require physical distancing and appropriate health precautions including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in a number of industries.

Washington Mask Challenge

The Lt. Governor’s office has partnered with the United Ways of the Pacific Northwest and Serve Washington to organize a statewide homemade mask-making initiative to encourage the general public to make, wear, and donate cloth masks.

AARP

“Spread the Facts” – Covid 19 Tips and Resources

Washington State Coronavirus Response

FAQ Regarding Employee Rights under WLAD

Washington State Employment Security Department

Washington State Department of Financial Institutions

Financial Resources for Washington Residents Impacted by COVID-19

Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families

Caring for Your Family During Covid-19

APPLE HEALTH

“Apple Health is meant to be there when people need health care the most,” said HCA State Medicaid Director MaryAnne Lindeblad. “Due to the pandemic, many people are experiencing loss of income that may make them eligible for this program. We encourage those seeking free or low-cost health care coverage to visit our website to learn more.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, more than 100,000 Washington residents have enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid), Washington state’s insurance program for individuals with lower incomes. Learn more at their website about eligibility requirements.

Creative Borrowing Webinar (held June 10th)

Looking for ways to increase your organization’s stability and restart your programs, but you were not available to take advantage of The Creative Borrowing webinar is hosted by ArtsWA, Oregon Arts Commission, and Arts Idaho? You can still view the webinar video, and access the information shared. Click Here

Washington State Department of Commerce

Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grants Apply for up to $10,000 in emergency funding. NOTE: Asotin, Clark, Garfield, Island, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Okanogan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Whitman and Whatcom counties are no longer accepting applications due to overwhelming volume.

Washington State Department of L & I

Washington State Employer Assistance Program
COVID-19 Prevention: General Requirements & Prevention Ideas for Workplaces – Downloadable pdf

Washington State Office of the Governor

Business and Workers Resources – Downloadable pdf

Artists Up: Free Online Consultations

Free Online Consultations are now available in response to COVID-19 related setbacks for the creative sector. Receive no-cost professional online advice on finance/accounting, unemployment, law, healthcare/insurance, housing/space, grant-writing, basic needs, and topics under these categories. Registration, scheduling, and consulting sessions are ONLINE.

FOLLOW STEPS BELOW & MAKE APPOINTMENT:

Go to Artists Up website: www.artistsup.org
Click: COVID-19 Resources
Review & Scroll down to: HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A CONSULT
Click link: Artists Up COViD Relief Hub (on Mentorly web site)
Click: Get Started

Direct any questions to: helloartistsup@gmail.com

Artists Up: Free Online Consultations

FOLLOW STEPS BELOW & MAKE APPOINTMENT:

Go to Artists Up website: www.artistsup.org
Click: COVID-19 Resources
Review & Scroll down to: HOW TO SIGN UP FOR A CONSULT
Click link: Artists Up COViD Relief Hub (on Mentorly web site)
Click: Get Started

Direct any questions to: helloartistsup@gmail.com

Artist Trust Relief Fund

Providing $500 – $5000 grants to working artists in Washington State.

Local and Regional Support

Find resources that are available in your county or region of the state.

King County

Jolyn GC – Seattle

Joan McBride – Kirkland

Senator Lisa Wellman – Mercer Island

Sheree Wen – Medina

Northwest Region

Rep. Carolyn Eslick – Sultan

Linley Logan – Bremerton

Diane Martindale – Friday Harbor

Rebecca Redshaw – Mount Vernon

Judy Tuohy – Everett

Puget Sound Energy

Regulators approve COVID-19 bill assistance for Puget Sound Energy customers

Southwest Region

Robin Avni – Gig Harbor

Francene Blythe – Vancouver

Andre Bouchard – Vancouver

Mariella Luz – Olympia

Faaluaina S. Pritchard – Lakewood

Rep. Sharon Wylie – Vancouver

Sen. Hans Zeiger – Puyallup

Tacoma

Uplift Tacoma is a multimedia platform designed to provide Tacoma residents a means of connection, inspiration and support in an unprecedented time of physical distancing. Uplift Tacoma seeks to engage community in ways that matter, that celebrate Tacoma’s creative greatness, and empower Tacoma residents to express themselves in the face of adversity.

Thurston County

Thurston Strong

Puget Sound Energy

Regulators approve COVID-19 bill assistance for Puget Sound Energy customers

Pierce County

Pierce County Veterans Assistance Program

Tacoma

Thurston County

Central Region

Monica Miller – Ellensburg

Charlie Robin – Yakima

Rosanna Sharpe – Coulee City

Methow Arts Alliance

Providing support and relief services to artists in the Methow Valley region.

Puget Sound Energy

Regulators approve COVID-19 bill assistance for Puget Sound Energy customers

Eastern Region

Ginger Ewing – Spokane

Wesley Jessup – Spokane

Justin Raffa – Richland

Anna-Maria Shannon – Pullman

Spokane Artists & Creatives Fund

Resources from the Federal Government

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

General CDC landing page for information and updates at the national level (multiple languages)

Coronavirus (COVID-19) website

General government website with info about coronavirus.

FEMA

Coranavirus Rumor Control

The Artist Relief fund will distribute $5,000 grants to artists struggling financially from the pandemic.

coronavirus.gov

How is the Federal Government Supporting Small Business?

The Federal Reserve

Has expanded the Main Street Lending Program to allow more small and medium-sized businesses to be able to receive support.

Small Business Administration (SBA)

The U.S. Small Business Administration Paycheck Protection Program resumed accepting applications today in response to the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act. The new deadline to apply for a Paycheck Protection Program loan is Aug. 8. This is a loan designed to provide a direct incentive for small businesses to keep workers on the payroll.

Small Business Administration Business Guidance and Loan Resources
Providing guidance for businesses, funding options and more

Resources from National Organizations

Americans for the Arts COVID Resources & Response Center Page

NASAA’s COVID-19 Resource Page

VISA Foundation

$210 Million COVID-19 Relief Fund in support of Small & Micro-businesses

Linzer Consulting

A Third Resource: Fully Secured Borrowing for Arts and Creative Nonprofits – PDF link

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (in coalition with other large national arts funds)

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation announced that it will dedicate an additional $200 million in grantmaking – on top of its $300 million originally planned for 2020 – for emergency support to non-profits in higher education, the arts, and humanities, to help shore up struggling institutions during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Safety, Health and Consumer Council

Small Business Protection Guide

The New York Foundation for the Arts

NYFA has published a page of links to emergency funding at their website.

Artist Relief Fund

The Artist Relief fund will distribute $5,000 grants to artists struggling financially from the pandemic.

CERF+ the Artist Safety Net

Providing a safety net to artists who work in craft disciplines

Raushenberger Medical Emergency Grants

The program, a partnership between the NYFA and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, provides one-time grants of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies.

Freelance Artist Resource Producing Collective

An aggregated list of FREE resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines.

Freelancers Union

What freelancers need to know about the coronavirus

National Employment Rights Project

Resources to Support Workers During the Coronavirus Pandemic