Eighteen months ago, we reported on a new relief fund to support hard-hit artists in the East Bay. Funded by the Bay Area Funders, a coalition of private donors, foundations, and the City of Oakland, the East Bay Relief Fund for Individuals in the Arts provided $625,000 for artists and culture workers living in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Recognizing that the need for funding persists even as early sources of support have dried up, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation and Walter & Elise Haas Fund have announced the 2021 edition of the East Bay Relief Fund, with $337,500 available for direct grants to artists, and arts and culture workers. The deadline to apply December 8, 2021.
Ted Russell, the Rainin Foundation’s director of Arts Strategy and Ventures, said, “The pandemic has been extremely tough on the arts community, and especially difficult for artists of color. While a number of funders stepped forward with support, recent research shows that only 14 percent of the emergency funds that were created to support artists are still active. That’s why we are urgently launching this second round of relief funding for artists.”
This statement from the Relief Fund outlines the intentions of the grant:
The East Bay Relief Fund for Individuals in the Arts will make grants directly to artists, teaching artists, culture bearers, and nonprofit arts workers. The Fund will place a priority on the financial needs of individuals from cultural communities that are historically underserved and are particularly financially vulnerable, especially people who are Black, Indigenous, Latinx, foreign-born immigrants, transgender, and people with disabilities. The COVID-19 crisis has had a disproportionate effect on these populations as well as the arts and culture community. Individuals may apply once for up to $2,000. Funds are unrestricted and can be used in any way that alleviates financial hardship.
Laura Poppiti, program director at the Center for Cultural Innovation said, “This fund is designed to ensure that these individuals and their essential services can continue to flourish. Artists and cultural workers also have deep ties in their communities and provide responsive programming and services that address immediate community concerns and needs.”
Applications
Each applicant must be a current, full-time resident of Alameda County or Contra Costa County; must be an artist, teaching artist, culture bearer, and/or nonprofit arts worker; cannot have a conflict of interest (family or financial relationships) with the boards, staff, and directors of the Center for Cultural Innovation and funders of the Relief Fund. If the number of applications exceeds available funds, priority will be placed on people who are Black, Indigenous, Latinx, foreign-born immigrants, transgender, and people with disabilities.
Applications will be accepted from November 16 through December 8, 2021. The East Bay Relief Fund for Individuals in the Arts’ online application can be accessed at: https://centerforculturalinnovation.submittable.com/submit
Questions
For questions about the Fund or the application process, contact CCI at grants [at] cciarts [dot] org or (213) 705-9112.
Contributions
Please contact Laura Poppiti, CCI Program Director, at grants [at] cciarts [dot] org if you would like to support the East Bay Relief Fund for Individuals in the Arts with a tax-deductible contribution.
