To assess the needs of the creative community locally and nationally, individual artists and organizations are asked to submit information as soon as possible. Latest update January 24, 2022.

• 2021 Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic from Americans for the Arts
• The Impact of COVID-19 on Artists and Creative Workers from Americans for the Arts & Alchemer.com
• Mass Cultural Council Seeks Public Input on COVID Relief Programs – submit feedback on how the $60 million in state ARPA spending plan should be used (please respond by February 7, 2022)

The below information is specifically focused on individual artists and performers, as well as arts and cultural organizations. For resources relevant to small businesses, real estate, and more, please visit WorcesterMA.gov/coronavirus. Latest update April 29, 2020.

• Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund from GoFundMe – funding opportunities for BIPOC individual artists/teaching artists
• Artist Relief Fund from Americans for the Arts – a national emergency relief fund for artists and creative workers!
• CARES Act: How to Apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds from Independent Sector – information for small and large nonprofits, as well as individuals!
• Corona Relief Fund Application from Equal Sound – for musicians who have lost income due to a cancelled gig
• Emergency Funds – All Art Forms from WomenArts – emergency funds for artists including actors, visual and performing artists, writers, and musicians
• Emergency Grants from Dramatists Guild Foundation – emergency financial assistance for individual playwrights, composers, lyricists, and bookwriters
• Freelance Artist Resources from COVID-19 & Freelance Artists – resources, opportunities, and financial relief options for artists of all disciplines
• Gaming Mitigation from the Mass Cultural Council – capital for the sustainability of nonprofit and municipal performing arts centers! Applications close APRIL 30, 2020
• Get Found on CreativeGround.org – a New England directory of creative enterprises and artists!
• Guidance for MCC Grant Recipients from Mass Cultural Council – info for MCC grant recipients (including WAC grants)
• MassHire Resources for unemployment, as well as urgently needed employment opportunities
• Musicians Foundation Emergency Aid Grant Program from Musicians Foundation – emergency grants up to $200. As of April 29, this is temporarily closed due to high volume of submissions. To be reopened at a later date.
• Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Guide to Unemployment Assistant from Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition – a video Q&A on applying for unemployment and other developments under the CARES Act!
• Women in Film Fellowship from the Shawna E. Shea Memorial Foundation – $1,200 award and a one year mentorship from a variety of professionals in the filmmaking and arts communities.

Latest update April 29, 2020.

• Federal Coronavirus Relief Bills: What Do They Mean for Nonprofits? from National Council of Nonprofits – a webinar on analysis and information!
• MCC Cultural Facilities Fund from the Mass Cultural Council & MassDevelopment – supporting capital projects within the cultural sector. Applications close January 15, 2021.
• NEFA COVID-19 Resources from New England Foundation for the Arts – special considerations related to the arts and culture sector
• NFF Tools & Resources from NFF – quickly determine your operating expenses and your surplus/deficit
• Rediness Planning from ArtsReady – create a business continuity plan for your arts organization’s business continuity plan
• Resources for Nonprofits and Funders from Bridgesource – a collection of resources, from responding to the pandemic to potential economic downturn
• Resources and Guidance for Businesses from Mass.gov – navigation for the Commonwealth’s business community
• Small Business Disaster Assistance from U.S. Small Business Administration – low-interest disaster loans to help businesses and homeowners recover from declared disasters
• What Nonprofit Board Members Should Be Doing Right Now to Address the COVID-19 Situation from BoardSource – many nonprofits and their boards are wrestling with difficult questions and decisions. In these uncertain times, a board needs to provide steady and adaptive leadership in partnership with and in support of the CEO.
• Worcester Together: Central Mass COVID-19 Fund from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation – grants for nonprofit organizations!

Latest update April 29, 2020.

• 6 Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover From Coronavirus Spread from The Chronicle of Philanthropy
• COVID-19 – Seven Things Philanthropy Can Do from FSG
• Funder? Here are 7 things you can do to support your arts community from Americans for the Arts

Latest update April 29, 2020.

• Contact your state legislators and tell your story.
• Contact your member of congress to encourage they include the creative community in the legislative relief package.

• 2020.04.08: What We Heard at the Legislative Listening Session by Anita Walker, MCC
• 2020.04.08: Two COVID-19 Relief Programs Approved by Bethann Steiner, MCC
• 2020.04.08: COVID-19 Relief Effort for Organizations by Michael Ibrahim, MCC
• 2020.04.07: Artists Not Just For Art’s Sake, But For Community’s Sake by Rodrigo Guerro, Creative Generation
• 2020.04.04: Local Music and Art Schools Stay Connected with Students via Online Lessons by Richard Duckett, Telegram & Gazette
• 2020.04.01: Worcester Cultural Coalition announces artist relief grants by Victor Infante, Telegram & Gazette
• 2020.03.30: Economic Relief for the Creative Community in Federal COVID-19 Relief Bill by Tracie Konopinski, MASSCreative
• 2020.03.26: Staying Connected in the Face of COVID-19 by Timothea Pham, MCC
• 2020.03.25: Community Engagement in the Time of COVID-19 by Patricia Walsh, Americans for the Arts
• 2020.03.24: Early Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on MA Cultural Sector by Bethann Steiner, MCC
• 2020.03.20: Filling the silence: Worcester artists look to web for help as pandemic claims gigs by Victor Infante, Worcester Magazine
• 2020.03.20: ‘Stay positive and stay creative.’ How two Boston artists are adjusting to work in the time of coronavirus by Jeneé Osterheldt, Boston Globe
• 2020.03.20: COVID-19 Preparedness for the Cultural Sector from the Mass Cultural Council
• 2020.03.18: Baker-Polito Administration Makes New Announcements on Childcare, Small Business Tax Relief and Unemployment Insurance Legislation Related to COVID-19 from Mass.gov
• 2020.03.16: Baker-Polito Administration Announces $10 Million Small Business Recovery Loan Fund from Mass.gov
• 2020.03.16: MCC: Update to our Response to COVID-19 from Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director
• 2020.03.13: What Nonprofits Should Do Right Now by Sandi McKinley, NFF.org
• 2020.03.12: Arts Organizations Are Heading Into a Crisis. A Few Things Might Mitigate the Disaster. by Justin Davidson, Vulture
• 2020.03.12: MCC: Letter to the Field on Coronavirus from Anita Walker, MCC Executive Director
• 2020.03.12: Coronavirus pinching livelihood of Akron artists, backers say by Dan Shingler, Crain’s Cleveland Business
• 2020.03.12: Performing Arts And Cultural Organizations Close Their Doors Due To Coronavirus by Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR
• 2020.03.12: Principles for Ethical Cancellation by Laura Zabel, Springboard for the Arts
• 2020.03.11: Coronavirus Could Decimate Touring Musicians’ Livelihoods by Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone
• 2020.03.10: As Coronavirus Threat Continues, Experts Tell Nonprofits to Shore Up Reserves by Dan Parks, Chronicle of Philanthropy
• 2020.03.09: 6 Steps for Grant Makers to Take Now to Ensure Nonprofits Recover From Coronovirus Spread by Antony Bugg-Levine, Chronicle of Philanthropy
• 2020.03.07: Don’t let local arts die because of coronavirus fears — and wash your hands by Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle
• 2020.03.04: Webinar: Preparing Your Organization for the Corona Virus Disease Outbreak from Event Safety Alliance

• City of Worcester Information Line, 508.799.1019 – speak to a live nurse to answer questions and concerns around COVID-19
• Assistance & Resources from the City of Worcester
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource and Response Center from Americans for the Arts
• Data: Funding for coronavirus from Candid
• MCC COVID-19 Resources from Mass Cultural Council
• Resource Hub from Council on Foundations