UPDATED: May 19, 2020
This article will be updated for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic as further resources become available. Please suggest potential resources to [email protected].
In a year that has already been financially difficult for California’s freelance musicians because of AB5, a new state law setting stricter—and for many musicians, unreasonable—standards for assessing whether someone is an independent contractor rather than an employee, the novel coronavirus pandemic is putting freelancers in even more desperate financial straits.
As a service organization, SFEMS is committed to supporting the Bay Area early music community. We hope the resources below will prove useful for local freelance musicians navigating the current crisis, as well as those interested in supporting our artists.*
- California Employment Development Department
- California Arts Council Emergency Preparedness
- California Lawyers for the Arts
- Supporting Artists with Families in our COVID-19 plans
- Musicians Foundation Aid Grants
- MusiCares Short-Term Financial Assistance
- National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness & Emergency Response (NCAPER)
- Artist Relief Tree: $250 grants, on a first-come, first-served basis (you may donate to the fund and apply for grants)
- Local 6 Musicians’ Union: Emergency Relief Fund (you may donate to the fund and apply for assistance)
- Early Music America #WeAreEarlyMusic Relief Fund (you may donate to the fund and apply for assistance)
- American Recorder Society (ARS) Relief Fund
- San Francisco Arts and Artists Relief Fund (available for both individuals and organizations.)
- American Federation of Musicians COVID-19 resources (a great resource to navigate unemployment benefits)
- Artist Relief (national $5000 grants)
- California Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (online applications will be accepted starting Tuesday, April 28)
- [NEW] East Bay/Oakland Relief Fund for Individuals in the Arts
In support of our wonderful Bay Area early music professionals, please consider reaching out directly to individual musicians and arts organizations who are adversely affected by this crisis. We hope that everyone is receiving adequate care physically, mentally and emotionally during this time.
*These resources are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by SFEMS for any of the products, services, or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. SFEMS bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality. or content of the external resources or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
