Artists struggling financially because of the pandemic are invited to apply for a $1,500 Alaska Arts and Culture Emergency Relief COVID-19 Grant before the June 30 deadline.
The aid is a collaborative effort of the Alaska State Council on the Arts, the Alaska Arts and Culture Foundation, the Atwood Foundation and Rasmuson Foundation.
Plans are to continue beyond the current situation to provide emergency relief to artists and community arts organizations who experience hardship due to extenuating circumstances, natural disasters and other unforeseen financial emergencies.
“We all know the on-going severity of the problem facing our arts and culture communities,” said Norm Campbell, president of the Alaska Arts & Culture Foundation. “This collaborative effort is an important firststep to bring aid and support to those in need.”
More information about eligibility and applications are at artsalaska.submittable.com/submit.
“Artists are such an important part of what makes our state so great,” said Diane Kaplan, president, and chief executive officer of Rasmuson Foundation. “They are the heart and soul of our communities, adding richness to our lives. We are glad to be able to provide a little assistance in their time of need.” “Right now, artists are out of work – completely out of work,” said executive director Ira Perman of the Atwood Foundation. “There are no tourists to buy the work of artists. Actors, singers and dancers can’t even wait tables. Until theatres, galleries, and other arts businesses fully open up, artists need this assistance to meet their basic economic needs.”
