Resources for Arts Entrepreneurs

The following are local, state, and national organizations that have resources for artists and arts organizations: 

National Endowment for the Arts 

The National Endowment for the Arts awards thousands of grants per year across the USA to provide everyone with access to art. Local arts organizations and nonprofits can apply for grants on their webpage.

South Arts 

South Arts is a non-profit, Regional Arts Organization from Atlanta serving audiences, arts organizations, and artists. South Arts is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, member states, foundations, businesses and individuals. They work in partnership with the State Arts Agencies of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

South Arts' page for grants and fellowships

North Carolina Arts Council

The North Carolina Arts Council’s mission is to sustain and grow the arts in communities across North Carolina. 

NC Arts Council Grants

Artist Opportunities

Americans for the Arts 

Americans for the Arts serves, advances, and leads the network of organizations and individuals who cultivate, promote, sustain, and support the arts in America. Founded in 1960, Americans for the Arts is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.

Americans for the Arts Funding Resources

Arts Ready

ArtsReady, an online emergency preparedness service by and for arts/cultural nonprofits, provides arts organizations with customized business plans to help you get through an unexpected crisis.

Durham Arts Council 

Durham Arts Council (DAC) has launched the Arts Recovery Fund to help attract support for the arts community during this critical time, with initial support from Duke University, the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation, the Durham Arts Council Board of Trustees and Man Bites Dog Theatre Fund. Gifts from individuals, corporate and public funders are encouraged.

Donate to the Durham Arts Council Arts Recovery Fund

Apply for the Durham Arts Council Arts Recovery Fund as an Individual Artist

Apply for the Durham Arts Council Arts Recovery Fund as an Arts Organization

In partnership with the Durham Artist Relief Fund established by NorthStar Church of the Arts the two funds will support, cross-promote, and coordinate with each other to maximize resources for the arts community.

Triangle ArtWorks

Triangle ArtWorks provide the services, support and resources necessary to cultivate and ensure a vibrant creative community in the Triangle region of North Carolina.

Triangle ArtWorks’ COVID-19 Resource Page

Resources for Individual Artists and Makers

The following are a list of resources and relief funds specifically for individual artists and makers. 

American Craft Council 

“The American Craft Council supports professional makers through nonprofit shows,  and educational resources including a one-of-a-kind library, conferences, public lectures, and student programs.”

Resources for makers during COVID-19

Creative Capital  

“Creative Capital has joined forces with national arts grantmakers to form Artist Relief — an initiative that includes immediate, unrestricted emergency funding of $5,000 for individual artists of all disciplines.”

Applications for Creative Capital's Artist Relief Fund are now closed, but you can read about the fund on their webpage.

CERF+ COVID-19  

“CERF+ serves artists who work in craft disciplines by providing a safety net to support strong and sustainable careers. CERF+’s core services are education programs, advocacy, network building and emergency relief.”

Learn more about the CARES Act and Steps You Can Take from CERF+

Durham Artist Guild

The Durham Artist Guild has compiled a list of resources for supporting local artists and the arts during COVID-19.

Ways to support local artists during COVID-19

Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund (GoFundMe link)

Currently on pause until 2022.

“Arts Administrators of Color Network has set up the Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund which folks can donate directly to in support of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists AND administrators (consultants, facilitators, box office staff, seasonal/temporary employees, etc.) who have been financially impacted due to COVID-19. Creatives practicing and teaching their art as well as the administrators who are supporting that art will without a doubt need our financial support to weather this unexpected and uncertain storm.”

Authors League Fund

“Authors League Fund has helped professional authors, journalists, poets, and dramatists who find themselves in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune.”

Donate or Apply to the Authors League Fund

Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Grant

“The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation.”

Apply to the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation Emergency Grant

Musicians’ Emergency Fund

“The Jazz Foundation’s Musicians’ Emergency Fund provides housing assistance, pro bono medical care, disaster relief and direct financial support in times of crisis.”

Apply to the Musicians’ Emergency Fund

Rauschenberg Emergency Grants

The next award cycle, Cycle 11, will open January 10 with a deadline of February 7 for emergencies occurring June 1, 2021 and later.

“The program will provide one-time grants of up to $5,000 for unexpected medical emergencies. The grants are available to visual and media artists and choreographers who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents in the United States, District of Columbia, or U.S. Territories. No deadline; applications accepted/reviewed on a monthly basis beginning late May/early June 2020.”

Apply to the Rauschenberg Emergency Grants

Online Workshops

Coping with COVID: Livestreaming for Artists

Coping with COVID: Financial Implications for Creative Individuals