Arizona Artists and Arts Professionals to Receive $171,830 in Emergency Relief | https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/arts-and-culture/1184 | Arts and Culture | | 4/30/2020 12:22:00 AM | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/NewsArticle/Attachments/1184/Newsroom_Arts_042920.jpg | | Arizona Artists and Arts Professionals to Receive $171,830 in Emergency Relief | <div class="ExternalClass9CAC0AA5891C44748C289D0D3A10D72E"><html>
<p>Today, a group of Arizona arts funders and service organizations announced they will provide $171,830 in emergency relief grants of up to $750 to 235 artists and arts professionals across the state. </p>
<p>One effort in a slate of crisis response strategies launched last month, the Emergency Relief Fund for Arizona Artists and Arts Professionals was established as a collaborative fund to support artists and creatives experiencing cancelled events and terminated contracts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. </p>
<p>The fund was initially seeded with $130,000 from the Arizona Community Foundation and another $35,000 from partners including Artlink Inc., the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona, and the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. The application process was managed by the Arizona Commission on the Arts, an agency of the State of Arizona.</p>
<p>Open to residents of Arizona whose primary source of income is in artistic production, teaching artist residencies, cultural events, or contract work with nonprofit arts organizations, the online application opened on Saturday, April 4, 2020, and closed later that same day due to the high volume of submissions.</p>
<p>The 235 relief grants announced today represent 45% of the initial applicant pool. First-round recipients hail from cities and towns across Arizona, with 25% from rural/remote communities and 75% from urban metros. 46% of recipients identify as individuals of color. Recipients range in age from 18 to 75+, and collectively they specialize in dozens of creative disciplines. </p>
<p>After being considered in accordance with the stated commitments for the fund, applications were entered into a process for randomized selection. Value and need are accepted as fundamental conditions for this program; applications are not ranked according to subjective merit or persuasiveness.</p>
<p>Partners on the Emergency Relief Fund for Arizona Artists and Arts Professionals are still actively fundraising to support applicants who were not awarded relief grants in the first round. Individuals and organizations are invited to join in the effort and contribute to the fund at <a href="https://azarts.gov/grant/emergency-relief-fund" target="_blank">https://azarts.gov/grant/emergency-relief-fund</a>. <br><br></p>
</html></div> | https://www.phoenix.gov/arts | News | | arts-and-culture | Arts & Arts Professional Emergency Relief Fund | A+C | | | | @phxarts_culture | artist grants, COVID-19, emergency funding | Matt Heil | 602-697-7954 | 602-534-0108 | | | matthew.heil@phoenix.gov | https://www.phoenix.gov/newssite/Lists/MediaContact/Attachments/5/Matt_Heil.jpg | | | | | | | | phxarts_culture | |