WNY Arts Emergency Relief Fund

WNY Arts Emergency Relief Fund

Program Status: Currently all funding has been distributed. Applications accepted on rolling basis if additional funding becomes available.

Geographic Scope: Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Cattaraugus, and Chautauqua counties, New York

Background: Created in response to COVID-19 pandemic to support Western New York's creative industry impacted by cancelled performances, workshops, gigs, and event-based income losses. Funded by Fund for the Arts and supported by multiple local foundations and individual donors.

Focus: Supporting both individual artists and nonprofit arts organizations to help cover living and operating expenses during the crisis.

Award Amounts

Individual Artists: Up to $1,000 for living expenses

Arts Organizations: Up to $5,000 for general operating expenses

Eligibility - Individual Artists

• Must be permanent resident of Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Cattaraugus, or Chautauqua counties
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Cannot be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program
• Must demonstrate direct and significant loss of income directly related to arts/cultural work
• Priority given to individuals whose primary income source is from creating or practicing art
• Eligible disciplines include all creative arts

Eligibility - Arts Organizations

• Must be located in Erie, Niagara, Allegany, Cattaraugus, or Chautauqua counties
• Arts and cultural programming must be part of mission and primary focus
• Must have at least one full year of completed arts or cultural programming
• Must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax exempt, or have CHAR500 status
• Must demonstrate direct and significant loss of revenue due to cancelled events, programs, projects

Additional Requirements (Both Individual & Organization)

• Funding cannot cover training, medical procedures, or redistributed through regrant program
• Funding cannot cover costs related to previously ASI-funded programs (2020 DEC, Global Warming Art Project, etc.)

What They Don't Fund

• Training and educational programs
• Medical procedures
• Projects/programs previously funded by ASI

Contact:

Holly Grant: [email protected] or 716-833-3004 x512

ASI Office: 2495 Main Street, #401, Buffalo, NY 14214

Supporters: Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, First Niagara Foundation, M&T Charitable Foundation, John R. Oishei Foundation, WNY Foundation, plus individual donors