At this time,  The Artist Trust COVID-19 Relief Fund is closed.

We at Artist Trust recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and the need for support has not gone away. Our team will continue work toward more funding opportunities for artists impacted by the pandemic and other emergencies, as well as promote other relief funds and resources for artists on this page.

Use this  monthly loss income calculator tool to assist with determining lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic. This could be helpful when applying for emergency funding, unemployment, and other financial assistance. 

If you have any questions about Artist Trust’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, please contact Program Manager, Grace Nakahara.

Emergency Funds

Housing Support

Food Assistance

Unemployment Resources

Healthcare

Legal

General Information

Other COVID-19 Resources

The COVID-19 Artist Trust Relief Fund FAQ

UPDATE: The second phase of the Artist Trust COVID-19 Relief Fund is now closed, and we are no longer accepting applications. Submitted applications are currently being reviewed. Applicants will be notified of their application status mid to late April, and funding will be distributed in the same timeframe.

*This fund prioritizes the following communities: BIPOC artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, immunocompromised artists, artists living with or having a disability, and artists with immigrant status. 

Artist Trust will use an intersectional approach to application review, allowing applicants to self-select into demographic and other categories. Review team will prioritize BIPOC artists who identify with other marginalized communities such as LGBTQIA+ artists, immunocompromised artists, artists with a disability, artists with immigrant status, and artists who are residents of regions/communities experiencing the greatest impacts from COVID-19.

Please read this FAQ prior to contacting our staff with questions. Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to every question we receive. If your question is not covered in this FAQ, please contact our COVID-19 Relief Coordinator Grace Nakahara at grace@artisttrust.org.

How do I apply?

To apply, you must create a Submittable account and submit an application through Submittable. A link to the application is here. 

How can I contribute to the fund?

Fundraising for the relief fund has ended. However, if you would like to make a contribution to Artist Trust’s greater relief efforts and supporting artists statewide, please visit our donation page here.

Am I eligible for this funding?

This funding is intended to support working artists residing in Washington State whose livelihoods have been impacted by COVID-19.

To be eligible for this funding, you must be an individual artist, 18 years or older, and residing in Washington State at the time of the deadline and receiving funds. You cannot be currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate degree program at the time of the deadline and when funds are distributed, and you cannot apply on behalf of a business, company, nonprofit, organization, community group, ensemble, collective, or a fiscally-sponsored entity. Artists who received funding from our first round of funding from the COVID-19 Artist Trust Relief Fund in 2020 are ineligible.

Proof of residency, such as a copy of a current Washington State Driver’s License / ID or a last month’s utility bill, is required for your payment to be processed. The address on the utility bill must match the address included in your letter of agreement and application.

What is a working artist?

A working artist is one whose primary source of income is from their art or art-related activities / gigs. Artists who receive funding must fall into these four disciplinary categories: film/media, literary, performing, and visual. Curators, arts workers, community organizers, producers, and nail technicians are not considered working artists. This fund supports generative individual artists, those who are the originators of works of art. 

How much money will I receive?

Grants are $1,500. 

How many artists are being funded? 

We are able to provide at least 120 artists with $1,500 each.

What is a “critical need”?

Critical needs are:

  • Rent and mortgage payments, food, utilities, and other living expenses
  • Physical and mental health related expenses

This funding is not for art supplies or arts-related expenses and projects.

When will my application be reviewed?

Applications will be reviewed after the March 26th deadline. Originally, applicants were going to be notified of their application status on April 9, but due to the number of applications, applicants will instead be notified of their application status by the end of April. We have a mighty but small team and want to ensure each application gets a thoughtful review. If you do not hear back from us by the first week of May, please reach out to let us know. We appreciate your patience.

How are applicants selected?

Artist Trust will use an intersectional approach to application review, allowing applicants to self-select into demographic and other categories. The review team will prioritize BIPOC artists who identify with other marginalized communities such as LGBTQ artists, immunocompromised artists, artists living with or having a disability, artists with immigrant status, and artists who are residents of regions/communities experiencing the greatest impacts from COVID-19.

If I’m selected for relief funding, when will I receive the money?

Once you’re selected, we’ll send you a letter of agreement and W-9 as an additional form to your original application in Submittable. Upon receipt of these materials, we’ll process your funding, and it will be directly deposited into your bank account within 3-5 business days depending on your bank. We are only able to distribute relief funding by direct deposit.

Can I edit my application after I submit?

No, once your application has been submitted, you cannot make edits to it. 

Should I provide work samples, links to work samples, or my resume/CV?

Work samples are not required. However, you can include links in the “Tell us about your work as an artist” section of the application if you’d like.

Will receiving funding disqualify me from applying to and receiving other Artist Trust grants?

No.

I have received a merit-based grant (AIA, Fellowship, GAP, THA/SOLA, LaSalle, James W. Ray Award, and/or Venture Project) from Artist Trust in the past. Can I still apply?

Yes.

Do I have to pay taxes on this funding?

Our fund qualifies as a disaster relief payment, and thus is not required to be reported or disclosed by employers or employees, including via Form W-2 or 1099, and is not subject to federal tax withholding obligations. We encourage you to reach out to your own tax professional.