COVID-19 Resource Toolkit

for artists and our extended communities

The Vera List Center for Art and Politics is closely monitoring and observing the ever-changing guidelines on how to prepare for and reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Our upcoming programs have either been suspended or are moving online, with a virtual dance party to be announced in the coming days. 

During this time, our goal is to continue to support our community of artists, writers, and arts organizations, and to provide a safe space where art and politics can intersect. Below are resources ranging from virtual programs and events to emergency grants and funding for those in need during this time. We encourage everyone to follow both CDC/WHO guidelines for the most current updates on the COVID-19 virus, as well as to practice physical distancing if you are able to. The New School’s own guidelines are particularly helpful to students, faculty, and staff. 

Our deepest thanks to comrades around the world who have developed or shared the information below. Clearly, we are all in this together.

Resource Toolkit :

VIRTUAL GATHERINGS
As cultural institutions have closed their galleries to the public, suspended public programming, and taken their work remotely, many arts organizations and artists are providing new ways of distributing content and staying connected online. The following is what we’re watching, reading, listening to, participating in, and contributing to including various virtual gatherings and programs. 

Black Futures Community Hang on March 30 @ 3PM EST (Zoom)
CABIN FEVER: playlist of online experimental films & videos
Creaky Joints: “The Cripples Will Save You: A Critical Coronavirus Message from a Disability Activist”
e-flux reader: Contagion Issue 
Free At-Home Cultural Resources
Harun Farocki Institut: Rosa Mercedes (ongoing issue) 
Irresistable (fka Healing Justice Podcast) Coronavirus: Wisdom from a Social Justice Lens
New Social Environment: Daily Lunchtime Conversations with the Brooklyn Rail (Zoom link)
Social Distancing Festival
Social Justice in a time of Social Distancing
Texte zur Kunst: Notes from Quarantine
Ultimate Guide to Virtual Museum Resources, E-Learning, and Online Collections
Virtual Togethering For Freedoms (Sign up to lead a virtual session)  
War and Peace Reading and Discussion with Yiyun Li and A Public Space

GRANTS
The following are listings for emergency grants and financial support for artists, including specific funds for COVID-19 related economic hardship, and further resources. 

Artists’ Fellowship, Inc.
Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
Authors League Fund
CERF+ Emergency Assistance
Creator Fund
Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant
Gottlieb Emergency Grant Program
Haven Foundation 
Joan Mitchell Foundation Emergency Grants for 2020
Max’s Kansas City Project Emergency Grants
Mayer Foundation Grant 
PEN American Writers’ Emergency Fund
Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund
Rauschenberg Emergency Grant

CROWDFUNDING and COMMUNITY CARE 
The strength and resilience of the art community comes from its sense of solidarity and resource sharing with those most affected by COVID-19 and/or systemic oppression. The following is a list of crowdfunding you can donate to or apply for as well as a directory of artists and freelancers for hire. 

Arts Administrators of Color Network
Artist Relief Tree (ART) 
Cinema Workers Solidarity Fund 
P0stb1nary: Mutual Aid & Hire Independent Artists 
NYC Low-Income Artist/Freelancer Relief Fund
Leveler.info 

ADVOCACY AND IMPACT 
The impact of the COVID-19 closures is already evident in the arts with the freelance artists and workers feeling the brunt of it. In addition to the many resources being made available, the information being gathered through these surveys and advocacy organizations will be important to weathering the long-term effects in our communities. Please participate!

Americans for the Arts Survey
American Alliance of Museums (AAM)—urge Congress to include art organizations in its COVID-19 economic stimulus and relief packages
Art Handler, Impact of COVID-19 on Art Workers Survey 
Artists, Culture Workers, Freelancers, Gig Event Economy Losses Due to Covid-19 Cancellations 
ArtsReady
Brooklyn Art Council Survey 
Demands for Museums and Galleries from People’s Cultural Plan
Museum Educator COVID-19 Work Loss Plans
National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response (NCAPER)
NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment Survey for Nightlife Workers, Freelancers, and Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

TEACHING TOOLS
Accessible Teaching 
Art & Design Studio Instruction in the Age of “Social Distancing”
Art History Teaching Resources
Please do a bad job of putting your courses online
Remote Teaching Resources 
Teaching Effectively During Times of Disruption
The New School/Coronavirus Teaching Tools for Faculty

ADDITIONAL SOURCES 
@artopencall Artist Resources During Coronavirus
Brooklyn Art Council Resource Guide 
Creative Capital Resources for Artists
Common Field Resources for the Artists Organization Field
Coronavirus Resource Kit (with sections for artists)
COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
Hyperallergic Daily Report on the Impact of COVID-19

COVID-19 BEYOND THE ARTS
Center for Disaster Philanthropy  Covid-19 Response Fund
Covid-19 Financial Solidarity
Interest-free loans for NY residents affected by Coronavirus 
Mutual Aid NYC
NYC United Against Coronavirus 
Pod Mapping for Mutual Aid (Rebel Sidney Black)
Resource Library for COVID-19

The information collected above is by and large New York City centric with a focus on visual artists and writers, and is by no means comprehensive. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, we encourage you to check out many of the sources above, which contain extensive, additional resources. Our resource list will be updated regularly on our website and we’ll be sharing many more events on our social media platforms so follow us there. If you’d like us to add your event, resource, or correct any information listed here, please email us at vlc@newschool.edu.