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 us at info@artisttrust.org.

How do I apply?

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

How can I contribute to the fund?

We are actively fundraising to build the COVID-19 Artist Trust Relief Fund. You can make a contribution to the fund here. Thank you for your support of Washington State artists!

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. You cannot be currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate degree program at the time of the deadline, and you cannot apply on behalf of a business, company, nonprofit, organization, community group, ensemble, collective, or a fiscally-sponsored entity.

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 if you’re selected for an award. The address on the utility bill must match the address included in your contract 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. We will consider artists whose primary source of income is not from their art or arts-related activities / gigs on a case-by-case basis. Curators, arts workers, community organizers, producers, and business owners are not considered working artists. This fund supports generative individual artists, those who are the originators of works of art.

How much can I request?

Disbursements range from $500 to $5,000. Please ask for funding to support your immediate needs. We cannot guarantee we’ll be able to support you at the amount you requested.

What is a “critical need”?

Critical needs are:

  • Rent and mortgage payments, food, utilities, and other living expenses
  • Lost wages and earnings
  • Loss from event, performance, and conference cancellations and school / community-based education closures
  • Medical expenses

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

When will my application be reviewed?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with a goal of distributing funds to artists weekly. Within three days of launching this fund, we received more than 700 applications, totaling nearly $1.3 million in funding requests. Your application will be reviewed as soon as we’re able. We have a mighty but small team. Please be patient with us.

How are applicants selected?

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with a goal of distributing funds to artists weekly. Applicants are accepted based on the immediacy of their need. Priority is given to the most vulnerable populations, including artists whose primary source of income is from their art-making or arts-related activities / gigs; artists of color; immuno-compromised artists; artists with disabilities; and LGBTQ artists.

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

Once you’re selected, we’ll send you a contract and W-9 by email, which can be completed electronically via Docusign. Upon receipt of these materials, we’ll process your funding, and it will be directly deposited into your bank account within 3-5 days. 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. Due to the high volume of applications, we’re not able to open up applications for revisions.

Should I provide work samples or links to work samples?

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.

Should I provide my resume?

Resumes 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 other Artist Trust grants?

No.

I have received funding from Artist Trust in the past. Can I still apply?

Yes.

I didn’t receive the full amount I requested. Why not?

Within three days of launching this fund, we received more than 700 applications, totaling nearly $1.3 million in funding requests. We may not always be able to fulfill each artist’s request in its entirety.

Do I have to pay taxes on this funding?

Yes, you will receive a 1099 form by mail in early 2021. This is based on current federal tax laws, which may be subject to change.

Can I re-apply?

Yes, you can re-apply for funding whether you’ve been accepted or declined. You cannot have multiple pending applications. You must wait four weeks from the date you received notice from us on a pending application before you re-apply.