Resources for Artists During the Novel Coronavirus Pandemic
Here’s an assortment of links that might lead Vermont artists to helpful resources during the novel coronavirus pandemic. We know that musicians are facing hardships, like cancelations of shows and tours and the financial loss that goes with that. Like us, many other Vermont organizations are making an effort to lighten that load; hopefully you’ll find something useful in the following list. We also owe very special thanks to the Vermont Arts Council for their extraordinary effort to guide the state’s creative community through this social and economic challenge; many of the more comprehensive resources below were created by them.
General Vermont-Specific Information About Novel Coronavirus (State of Vermont)
We’re sending strong encouragement to affected musician/artist/sound & light engineers etc. to submit a 'Business Impacts from COVID-19' form to the Agency of Commerce and represent yourself among the small businesses that the state's emergency response efforts should support. Cultural Institutions, please consider visiting this Google Form to let the Vermont Arts Council know about impacts you’ve experienced arising from the pandemic.
The Agency of Commerce and Community Development also invites descriptions of economic impact faced by businesses, organizations, and (we insist), artists and independent creatives:
"ACCD is asking any Vermont business impacted by the response to COVID-19 virus to share these impacts with the Agency through a dedicated email address: commerce.covid19@vermont.gov.
If you are a...:
Live venue operator or promoter
Theatrical producer
Live performing arts organization operator
Relevant museum operator, zoos and aquarium who meet specific criteria
Motion picture theater operator
Talent representative, and
Business entity owned by an eligible entity that also meets the eligibility requirements
...You may be eligible for the The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) also known as the Save Our Stages (SOS) Grants. This Grant will provide aid to struggling live venue operators and related businesses through the U.S. Small Business Administration. The grants will offer a critical lifeline for the nation’s performing arts venues, movie theatres and museums.
Here is a link to an archived webinar (aired originally on January 14, 2021) that includes a preliminary overview of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program.
The SBA has not yet opened the program or released the full guidelines, but they will be posted on their site, where they will continue to monitor the program and will announce the release when it happens.They encourage potential applicants to contact the SBA with questions and/or concerns about the program using this email address: SVOgrant@sba.gov
Information from the Dept. of Labor
The Vermont Department of Labor has launched an online portal for employees who may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits as a result of COVID-19. This new process means initial unemployment insurance claims can now be filed online.
The Vermont Department of Labor also recently created a set of COVID-19 FAQs for Employers and Employees. New updates will be posted on the Department of Labor website. If you have specific questions, you may wish to contact the Vermont Department of Labor Employer Services line at 802 828-4344. Please understand that they are experiencing high call volume.
Paul Gambill, Executive Director of Community Engagement Lab, sends this information for those who are an independent contractor and do not qualify for traditional unemployment insurance payments from the state: You may qualify to receive pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA). First, get in the VT Dept of Labor system here. It might not accept your application(!). If you do get accepted, you can try to file a PUA weekly claim here. If you encounter problems, the Vermont House of Representatives is attempting to help people receive unemployment insurance (UI) or pandemic unemployment assistance (PUA). If you have unsuccessfully been applying for the assistance, please let your representative know, and provide the following information:
Name;
Phone number;
Email address;
Date you submitted a claim;
If you applied for UI or PUA;
Reason denied (or you just couldn't get through); and,
The last four digits of your social security number.
They can submit this information to the Department of Labor on your behalf, and it has been helping resolve issues in many cases. Some good news through all this mess is that once you are established in the system, they will be issuing claims back to the date you first lost income.
For Artists and Institutions
For for-profit live music venues: Main Street Alliance’s Main Street Relief Fund.
A large list of national emergency relief funds for musicians, collected by Levitt Foundation
U.S. Small Business Administration Coronavirus Relief Options, including the Paycheck Protection Program; EIDL Loan Advance; SBA Express Bridge Loans; and SBA Debt Relief
Vermont Rapid Response Artist Relief
COVID-19 Cultural Relief for organizations
Coalition supports for U.S. artists ($5,000 grants)
Vermont Arts Council Artist Relief Grants ($500 to replace lost revenue from canceled gigs.)
Recording Academy Musicares COVID-19 Relief, ($1,000 to replace lost revenue from canceled gigs.)
List of Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Creative Capital)
Covid-19 Resources (Vermont Arts Council)
Rauschenberg Emergency Grants (New York Foundation for the Arts & Robert Rauschenberg Foundation)
Principles for Ethical Cancelation (Springboard for the Arts)
The ONE Good Deed Fund is helping Burlington residents, including musicians and artists, who have lost work due to COVID-19 related closures with up to $100 in gift cards and direct payments to utilities, landlords, mortgage holders, and other businesses.
If your business is looking for technical assistance, the Vermont Small Business Development Center (VtSBDC) is providing various resources to help support small business during the COVID-19 outbreak. VtSBDC's team of advisors is actively working remotely to help you navigate this crisis. Click here to learn more and to request assistance.
Facebook Small Business Grants Program
Recording Academy MusicCares COVID-19 Relief Fund
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts provide legal assistance for at-risk artists and arts organizations with arts-related issues affected by the COVID crisis.
For Artists in Recovery (Courtesy Community Health Centers of Burlington)
https://unityrecovery.org/digital-recovery-meetings
Offering online recovery support groups which will be available four times daily at 9AM, 12PM, 3PM, and 9PM EST.
https://www.12step.org/social/online-meetings/
Offers a variety of online meetings and various other outside resources
https://www.AA-intergroup.org
Offers online meetings with specialized topics with a variety of meeting formats (i.e. chat, text, e-mail, etc.)
https://www.addictionrecoveryguide.org/…/on…/online_meetings
Offers a variety of online communications, including chat rooms, message boards, etc. They also offer online media and online meetings with specific meeting topics (i.e. cocaine anonymous)
https://www.intherooms.com/home/
Offers online meetings with specialized topics. They have multiple modalities, including 12 step, non-12 step, over all wellness, and overall mental health.
https://www.lifering.org/
Provides online meetings using Zoom. They already have a set schedule for all 7 days of the week with various”
Live Streaming Tutorials
Heart photo by Ayana Wyse via Unsplash.com.