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

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

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