The Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund

Note: The priorities of this fund may change at any time, as this crisis is quickly evolving and so are the needs of the Pinellas arts community.

The Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund provides rapid response awards to meet the urgent needs, and provide immediate financial relief to Pinellas County artists, arts organizations and creative businesses who have been impacted by an emergency situation/disaster we are facing, and, should the need arise and the resources be available, for future emergency situations as well.

With events, performances, and conferences canceled, the hospitality industry closure, growing travel restrictions, significant health threats, cross-sector lay-offs, and social distancing recommendations, Pinellas County artists, arts organizations and small creative businesses are facing severe career disruption and loss. These unrestricted cash awards are intended to support artists, arts organizations and creative businesses with (but not limited to):

• Lost wages and earnings;
• Loss from event, performance, and conference cancellations and school / community-based education closures; or from expected commissions, sales, or other opportunities due to the emergency situation/related economic downturn;
• Medical expenses;
• Bridge support to unemployment, food stamps;
• Rent and mortgage payments, food, utilities, and other living expenses

This is a rolling application process with review, selection and disbursement happening bi-weekly.

Awards are granted based on need.

This effort was seeded with funding from the Pinellas Community Foundation, St. Petersburg Arts Alliance, and Creative Pinellas. 

Eligibility

The Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund is open to artists residing in Pinellas County, arts organizations and small creative businesses located in Pinellas County, who face an immediate and urgent financial need, directly caused by an emergency or disaster situation.

If you have already received an award from the Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund, you may apply again. However, due to limited funds, preference will be given to applicants who have not received an award from the fund.

For this Fund:

• Professional artists are those working in visual arts including, painting, sculpture, murals, photography, etc.; performing arts including theatre, music and dance etc.; literary arts; performance, multimedia, and social justice art; and who are making a significant portion of their income through production/performance/sale of their artwork.
• Arts organizations are 501(c)(3) organizations with the primary mission of providing arts and or cultural experiences to the public.
• Small creative businesses are retail businesses run by artists or in support of artists (such as galleries, art curators/installers, etc.) whose primary source of income is arts related, and whose primary business focus is business-to-consumer or direct/artistic services to artists or arts organizations.

APPLICANTS MUST BE:

• Professional artists, arts organizations or small creative businesses as described above
• 18 years of age or older
• Artists living in Pinellas County or arts organization and creative businesses located in Pinellas County at the time of application and payment
• Facing an immediate and urgent financial need directly caused by the emergency situation/disaster

Per IRS rules, graduate or undergraduate matriculated students enrolled in any degree program are not eligible for this award.

Award Amounts

• $500 for artists
• Between $500 and $1500 for arts organizations and small creative businesses

Important Notes Before Applying

1. This fund is for emergency relief for individual artists, creative businesses and non-profit organizations in Pinellas County. This is an unrestricted cash award. It is not a loan.
2. Awards to individual artists will be $500.
3. Awards to arts organizations will be between $500 and $1500 depending on need.
4. Funds will be awarded based on demonstrable need, with a focus on taking care of the most vulnerable among us.
5. The total number of awards will be based on funds received by the Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund.
6. Applications will be evaluated by a volunteer advisory committee of fair-minded peers.  The committee will evaluate every application and give each one a score using a common set of guidelines.  This is a very difficult process, but fair.
7. Funds will be distributed as quickly as possible with the goal of distributing once a week to start.
8. You may apply more than once, after 30 days, whether or not you have already received an award. However, due to limited funds, preference will be given to applicants who have not received an award from the Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund.
9. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who submit incomplete applications will be notified and given an opportunity to resubmit immediately.
10. Distribution of the Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund is based on:
    • Donations received
    • The number of applications
11. For these reasons, applications may be funded in full, in part (for arts organizations and businesses) or in some cases not at all.
12. For arts organizations and creative businesses, it is expected that the organization/creative business is not able to acquire immediate funds to meet these emergency needs from other sources, and that the assistance they are seeking from the Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund will be used to meet needs that cannot be met from alternative funding sources.
13. In the event that the arts organization/business is able to secure other funding to meet the specific needs for which these relief funds were given, such as donors or government loans, it is expected that the organization or business will return their Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund award.

Much of this program is based upon trust and mutual respect.  We (who are members of the Pinellas County arts community and community at large) very much value what you bring to our lives and our community.  The Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund is an acknowledgment of your importance to our County.

Application

The application period for the Pinellas Arts Community Relief Fund has closed. 

Questions?

Please contact info@pinellascf.org