This resource page was created during the 2020-2021 COVID-19 Pandemic and is no longer in use, as of spring 2021.
As the community response to COVID-19/coronavirus sweeps the United States, the creative sector is being deeply affected. As your local arts agency, the Cultural Office will continue to share resources, tips and “best practices” from our colleagues across the nation and here in the Pikes Peak region. We’ll be updating this page as frequently as possible to help ensure that our local arts community has as the information it needs to survive and persevere during this unprecedented public health crisis.
Tips for Local Arts Supporters ...
You can help your favorite local artists and arts organizations to weather these challenging times by:
- Donating back the cost of any cancelled tickets.
- Taking an online class or workshop.
- Purchasing artwork, memberships, or gift cards now for future giving or use.
- Volunteering your time or in-kind services.
- Leaving a positive online review for a local gallery or art-related business.
- Making a financial contribution! We recommend supporting the local Artist Recovery Fund for individual artists, the Emergency Relief Fund for nonprofits, or the Survive & Thrive Small Business Emergency Relief Fund.
Funding Sources and Resources for the Arts Community
- Funding Resources
- Artist Recovery Fund for El Paso and Teller Counties
- National Artist Relief Fund
- Artist Grant: Free Marketing Services + Cash
- Pikes Peak Arts Council Microgrants
- Self-Employed Individuals can now apply for Unemployment from the State Labor Department
- Emergency Relief Fund for Theatre Artists from Denver Actors Fund, available throughout Colorado
- Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
- MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund
- Equal Sound Corona Relief Fund for Musicians
- Jazz Foundation of America Musicians’ Relief Fund
- Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
- Author’s League Fund
- Rocky Mountain Music Relief
- Pen America’s Writers’ Emergency Fund
- Foundation for Contemporary Artists COVID-19 Relief Fund
- Arts & Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
- CERF+ The Artist’s Safety Net
- HireArtists.org – A marketplace designed to facilitate creative exchange during an unprecedented economic crisis for the already-precarious arts and creative sector at large.
- Take Note Colorado Grant Program
- Other Resources
- Handling COVID-19 Event Cancellations from Colorado Attorneys For the Arts
- CERF+ The Artist’s Safety Net
- 9 Things to Do Now That Your Gigs Are Cancelled by Ari’s Take
- Freelance Artist Resources during COVID-19, from Creative Capitol (ongoing)
- Facebook Group for Online Art & Design Instructors (ongoing)https://hireartists.org
- Facebook for Creators
- Funding Resources
- Other Resources
- Mental Health Resources to Help Prevent Creative and Professional Burnout – Berkeley Boot Camps
- Facebook for Creators
- Whitepaper: “How Arts and Cultural Organizations Can Consider Adapting“
- Nonprofit Learning Lab
- Rapid Needs Assessment Tool from Results Lab
- Pikes Peak Library District’s Foundation Directory Online *special access
- CARES Act: How to Apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds from Independent Sector
- “PPP Made Easy” Infographic
- Colorado Nonprofit COVID-19 Facebook Group and LinkedIn Group
- Pro Bono Consulting for U.S. Based Arts Organizations from DEVOS Institute
- COVID-19 Updates & Resources for Colorado Nonprofits (incl. Facebook Group & LinkedIn Group) from Colorado Nonprofit Association
- What Colorado Public Health Order 20-22 Means from KKTV and the Colorado Attorney General
- “COVID-19: What Nonprofits Should Do Right Now” by Nonprofit Finance Fund (3/13)
- Tools & Resources for Nonprofits from Nonprofit Finance Fund (ongoing)
- “Arts Groups are Headed Into a Crisis: A Few Things Might Mitigate the Disaster” from Vulture.com
- Guidance for Businesses & Employers from the CDC (ongoing)
- Business Resources during COVID-19 from Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC (ongoing)
- Suggestions from Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs (ongoing)
- Business Preparedness and Continuity from Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center (ongoing)
- Coronavirus Colorado Springs Resource Page from Visit Colorado Springs (ongoing)
- Pro Bono Artspace Consulting Services
- Funding Resources
- Black Business Grants & Minority Resources
- Small Business Grant for Women:
Free Marketing Services + Micro-grant - The Business Relief Fund from The Colorado Springs Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
- Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center Resources, incl. available loan programs
- Pikes Peak EZ Business Relief Fund
- The Shuttered Venue Operator Grant
- Other Resources
- Mental Health Resources to Help Prevent Creative and Professional Burnout
- The Gazette’s Advertising Match Program
- Coronavirus Small Business Guide from U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Guide to Federal Small Business Aid Programs
- Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center Resources, incl. available loan programs
- Pro Bono Consulting for U.S. Based Arts Organizations from DEVOS Institute
- Guidance for Businesses & Employers from the CDC (ongoing)
- Business Resources during COVID-19 from Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC (ongoing)
- Suggestions from Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs (ongoing)
- Window Signs for reopening businesses & venues, from Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC and El Paso County Health
- Transitioning Programs and Artistic Content into an Online Structure by Artsopolis
- Arts & Culture Resource Guide (including resources by artistic genre) from KUVO
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource & Response Center from Americans for the Arts (ongoing)
- COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations from National Endowment for the Arts (ongoing)
- COVID-19 Resources for the Arts from Western States Arts Federation – WESTAF (ongoing)
- Resources to Support the Arts during COVID-19 from Colorado Creative Industries (ongoing)
- Community Care in the Time of Coronavirus from US Dept. of Arts and Culture (ongoing)
- City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Dept. (ongoing)
- The Social Distancing Festival (ongoing)
- Arts Advocacy Actions to Urge Support from Congress
- SupportTheSprings.com
- Discipline-Specific Resources and More from Creative Sonoma (ongoing)
- How to create a Virtual Event Listing on PeakRadar.com by Artsopolis
- “The Do’s and Don’ts of Video Conferencing” from The Verge
- National Arts Action Digital Summit
- “What to Know About COVID-19 and Colorado Travel” from the Colorado Tourism Office
- 25 top theater minds dream the future: What will the post-pandemic stage look like?
- A Reopening Guide for Arts & Culture from Colorado Creative Industries
- Relying on Creativity to Cope with Stress by Military Support Town Hall Meeting
- Nonprofit Learning Lab
- Webinar: Tools for Rapid Assessment to Support Community Needs During the COVID-19 Crisis from Results Lab
- ArtsU webinars related to COVID-19 presented by Americans for the Arts
- “Ask an Expert: The Legal Landscape of Live Streaming” hosted by the Alliance for Performing Arts Conferences
- “How the CARES Act Supports the Arts Sector” through Americans for the Arts ArtsU
- Webinar Series from the Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media
- Briefing on Emergency Coronavirus Funding for Nonprofits from U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- TRG Arts Virtual Roundtable Series – 30 minutes weekly (starts 3/17)
- Prepare Your Organization for the Coronavirus Disease Outbreak, hosted by Event Safety Alliance
- Coronavirus Preparedness for Theatres, hosted by Theater Communications Group
- “Pause or Pivot? Unforeseen C-suite Vacancies During COVID-19 Pandemic!” Virtual Town Hall presented by Nonprofit HR
- “Strengthening Civil Society in a Global Crisis” Hosted by Independent Sector
- “Creating and Managing a Virtual Silent Auction” hosted by Salsa Labs, presented by Handbid
- Think360 Arts For Learning Teaching Arts TV
- Dim Sum Dialogues: A series of panel discussions covering valuable knowledge, experience, and insight, led by members of the creative community.
- PPP Loan Forgiveness Webinar
- Funding Resources
- United Way Community Economic Relief Fund : 1-866-211-9966
- Other Resources
- Daily COVID-19 Data for State of Colorado
- El Paso County Health
- Teller County Public Health
- State of Colorado’s Novel Coronavirus Page
- “Help Needed in Colorado Springs” community Facebook Group
- Rocky Mountain PBS COVID-19 Community Resources
- COS Connect: Bringing Together Volunteers and Organizations
- Coronavirus Workplace Safety Guide
