California Community Foundation (CCF) together with the J. Paul Getty Trust and a coalition of local artist-endowed foundations announced today the launch of the Relief Fund for L.A. County Visual Artists, a collaborative effort to support the region’s visual artists who are struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The artist relief fund will distribute $655,000 to visual artists who represent diverse communities of Los Angeles County and have been severely impacted by the current crisis.
“During the current crisis, we are becoming ever more aware of the vital role artists play in our society. They guide us through dark times, they challenge us to think critically, and they stimulate us to imagine new futures,” says Joan Weinstein, director of the Getty Foundation. “Getty is grateful to be part of a collective effort trying to meet visual artists’ needs, and we hope that others who can contribute will join us.”
Eligible applicants may apply for up to $2,000 in one-time support, and grants can be used toward any expenses that alleviate financial pressures. The application can be accessed here.
To be eligible for the artist relief fund, applicants must be visual artists who are permanent residents of Los Angeles County and not currently enrolled in school. Applicants will be asked to demonstrate their artistic practice through an online presentation of their work and to describe their financial needs. Artists are asked to apply only if they are facing immediate needs, to reserve as much of the Relief Fund as possible for those facing significant financial threats.
The artist relief fund is administered by the Center for Cultural Innovation (CCI), a non-profit intermediary focused on the financial well-being of those in the arts. Additional support has been provided by a group of premier artist-endowed foundations based in Los Angeles, including the Mike Kelley Foundation for the Arts, the Sam Francis Foundation, and the Shepard and Amanda Fairey Foundation. Anticipating the long-term financial consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, additional contributions are encouraged.
Getty and California Community Foundation have been long-time collaborators in support of the arts in Los Angeles. They announced earlier this month that they would work together on a fund supported by $10 million from the Getty and administered by CCF to provide emergency relief and recovery grants to non-profit museums and visual arts organizations in Los Angeles County. This partnership and the contributions of artist-endowed foundations to the new artist relief fund reflect a shared belief that the arts are central to the vitality of the region.
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