Resources for Arts Administrators of Color During COVID-19 Pandemic

Here at ArtsBoston, the staff and Steering Committee of the Network for Arts Administrators of Color (NAAC) Boston have been continuously thinking about how to best help our members. We don’t know the full physical, emotional, societal, and economic implications and impact of the Coronavirus. Still, we know that we are here for our members and want to be a resource to you in this challenging time. This evolving resource page explicitly created for POC arts administrators is just one of our initiatives to connect and assist our community.

If you have resources to add to this list, please contact us.

Financial Resources

Artist Relief

Artist Relief is a national fund that provides $5,000 grants for practicing U.S. artists experiencing financial emergencies. Apply for a grant.

 

Massachusetts Mutual Aid Networks

This is a list of mutual aid networks in Massachusetts by town and neighborhood.

Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund

This national fund is for BIPOC artists and arts administrators financially impacted by COVID-19 and is organized by Arts Administrators of Color (AAC) Network. Apply for aid.

Boston Music Maker Relief Fund

Record Co. is raising and distributing funds for music makers in Greater Boston who have been financially impacted by COVID-19. Apply for aid.

Boston Artist Relief Fund

Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture and the Boston Center for the Arts are collecting and distributing funds for artists living in Boston whose income or creative process has been impacted by COVID-19. Apply for aid.

Cambridge Artist Relief Fund

This fund will provide one-time relief to arts organizations and artists who live, work, create, or perform in Cambridge. Apply for aid.

Theatre Community Benevolent Fund

This fund provides confidential financial relief for individual theatre practitioners and nonprofit organizations in and around Greater Boston.

Boston Singers’ Relief Fund

These grants award up to $500 for New England resident singers who earn up to 15% of their income through performances.

Self-care and Wellness

Afrobeat Fit

Sweat Sessions are available live on their Facebook and Instagram, Saturdays at 1:15 PM.

TRILLFIT @ Home

Free recorded sessions and live classes via Zoom @ 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 6:45 PM on weekdays, 9:30 AM on weekends.

@freeskewl

Freeskewl brings dance artists together online for free dance classes via Zoom. Check out their Instagram for more.

Greater Boston Zen Center – now offering virtual Zen meditation classes
We especially recommend Person of Color Sitting Group – meetings on the third Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:30 PM – newcomer orientation begins at 6:40 PM

33 Degree Yoga – free yoga classes on Instagram Live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7:00 PM

Next Big Thing – free workout challenges posted, and a variety of yoga, stretch, and meditation classes for $10/household most days at 1:00 PM

Social Convenings

NAAC Boston Virtual Socials

every Tuesday evening, 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Zoom – get the Zoom link by RSVPing here

Weekly WFHappy Hour – every Wednesday at 6:30 PM, it BYOB to AAC’s Zoom call exclusively for and by arts administrators of color throughout the nation. Register here

The Partyline – pop-up dance parties hosted through Zoom on Aysha Upchurch’s Instagram (@ayshadances)

Advocacy Tools

Americans for the Arts Action Center – Urge support for the arts during COVID-19 outbreak by writing to your U.S. senators and representative with this easy online tool

MassCreative COVID-19 Advocacy Page – information on how to reach out to your state legislators & share your economic impact story

Helpful Reading & Watching

New England Foundation for the Arts COVID-19 Resource Hub

Mass Cultural Council COVID-19 Resource Hub

COVID-19 Artist & Freelancer Resources – resources put together by the Freelance Artist Resource Producing Collective

Arts Ready – home page of national online emergency preparedness service for & by arts and cultural nonprofits pulling together resources, information, and on-going list of sector webinars

Panel: Artists in a Time of Global Pandemic – HowlRound recorded Zoom call for US-based artists and cultural workers of all disciplines

Panel: Ensuring Small & Minority-Owned Businesses Aren’t Left Behind – recorded Zoom call by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on inequities that emerge during crises, the efforts being made by financial and government institutions to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, and how we can collectively support our region’s small and minority business enterprises.

How to Produce a Livestreamed Event – a HowlRound essay by Producer Vijay Mathew