NPN COVID-19 Artist Relief Fund

NPN COVID-19 Artist Relief Fund: A Trust-Based Model

Program Type: Emergency relief funding for artists and cultural organizations

Geographic Scope: Louisiana (local focus)

Funding Period: 2020

Total Amount Awarded: Nearly $200,000

Program Components:

Fund 1: Artist Relief

• Amount: $150,000 total
• Per Artist Award: $1,500
• Recipients: Independent artists of color in Louisiana
• Purpose: Offset financial losses due to COVID-19 pandemic

Fund 2: Organizational Relief

• Amount: $50,000 total
• Recipients: Small Louisiana arts organizations led by people of color
• Purpose: Support organizational sustainability

Priority Focus Areas:

Artists experiencing significant financial losses from pandemic

Black Masking Indians and culture-bearing communities

Indigenous communities

Artists of color who often fall through cracks of other funding

Range of artistic disciplines and career stages

Geographic Scope:

Louisiana-based artists and organizations

Special focus on New Orleans region

Community-identified recipients

Application Process Philosophy:

Trust-Based Model: Minimal barriers to access

Human Scale: Hands-on stewardship and personal outreach

No Rejection: Designed not to turn away eligible artists

Community Identification: Artists nominated each other

Accessibility: Phone assistance with application forms

Seed Funding Source:
Ford Foundation

Contact:
Director of Local Programs: Stephanie Atkins
Available through npnweb.org

Key Design Principles:

Remove barriers to accessing funds

Prioritize artists often excluded from other opportunities

Operate at human scale with deep community engagement

Ensure significant impact relative to local economy

Simplify and expedite application process

Grant amount sufficient for meaningful impact

Avoid deficit-based approach with declinations