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.
Help Americans for the Arts track the national impact on our sector by taking the 2020 National Impact of Coronavirus Survey.
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
- Colorado Artist Relief Fund
- Artist Recovery Fund for El Paso and Teller Counties
- National Artist Relief Fund
- Arts in Society Grant (June 1)
- Self-Employed Individuals can now apply for Unemployment from the State Labor Department
- COVID-19 Emergence Relief Fund from Point of Pride for the Transgender Community
- Tuition Gap Program and Dancer Relief Fund from Colorado Springs Dance Theatre
- 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
- Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund
- Rocky Mountain Music Relief
- The Photographer Fund
- Pen America’s Writers’ Emergency Fund
- Foundation for Contemporary Artists COVID-19 Relief Fund
- Arts & Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund
- Emergency Grants for Curators from the Kinkade Family Foundation
- 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.
- SBA Disaster Loans & Emergency Grants – What Artists Need to Know
- 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
- Funding Resources
- Emergency Relief Fund from Pikes Peak Community Foundation
- Colorado CARES Grant
- COVID-19 CO Creatives Relief Grant
- The National Endowment for the Arts CARES Grant
- Arts in Society Grant (June 1)
- WESTAF CARES Relief Fund for Organizations
- IndyGive Supports Local Nonprofits
- COVID-19 Arts and Culture Relief Fund (June 8- June 26)
- NEH Relief Funding to Cultural Institutions
- Our Town, NEA Grant
- Other Resources
- New 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
- The Business Relief Fund from The Colorado Springs Downtown Development Authority (DDA)
- Survive & Thrive Small Business Emergency Relief Fund from Exponential Impact
- Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center Resources, incl. available loan programs
- Pikes Peak EZ Business Relief Fund
- Other Resources
- 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
- “We Can Help” Free Ad Campaign Program from The Gazette
- 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
- Nonprofit Learning Lab
- Webinar: Tools for Rapid Assessment to Support Community Needs During the COVID-19 Crisis from Results Lab
- Managing Cash Flow and Finances in Uncertain Times
- ArtsU webinars related to COVID-19 presented by Americans for the Arts
- “Making the Case for the Arts (Now More Than Ever)” hosted by the Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
- “Ask an Expert: The Legal Landscape of Live Streaming” hosted by the Alliance for Performing Arts Conferences
- “Coping with COVID: Centering Wellness and Self-Care for Creatives” hosted by Creative Capital
- Managing Business Needs During a Pandemic (For Artists & Arts Orgs) with Snell & Wilmer
- Instagram for Business with RiNo Made Salon and Denver Public Library
- “How the CARES Act Supports the Arts Sector” through Americans for the Arts ArtsU
- New Music Virtual Town Hall Meeting: Digital Live Streaming Methods hosted by International Contemporary Ensemble
- Webinar Series from the Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media
- Maximizing the Online Economy and Making the Most of Your Copyrights (Part 3: Film) with Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
- Virtual Meetings for Nonprofits with Open Media Foundation
- Maximizing the Online Economy and Making the Most of Your Copyrights (Part 2: Visual Artists & Writers) with Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
- Maximizing the Online Economy and Making the Most of Your Copyrights (Part 1: Music) with Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
- Briefing on Emergency Coronavirus Funding for Nonprofits from U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
- Pivot! How to Change Business Models and Find New Opportunities in Crises with Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
- Tactics and Strategies to Help You Adapt by CharityHowTo (multiple dates)
- TRG Arts Virtual Roundtable Series – 30 minutes weekly (starts 3/17)
- Panel Discussion, “Artists in a Time of Global Pandemic”
- 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
- “Coping with COVID: Time Management for Artists During Challenging Times” hosted by Creative Capital
- “Creating and Managing a Virtual Silent Auction” hosted by Salsa Labs, presented by Handbid
- Dance Educators Virtual Town Hall brought to you by Colorado Springs Dance Theatre
- Center for Creative Leadership Series: Building Resilience in Times of Disruption
- “Ready. Set. Reopen. Your Bounce-Back Plan” by Differentiation Zone
- “How COVID-19 is Impacting Intentions to Attend Cultural Institutions – And What Will Make Visitors Feel Comfortable Visiting Again” by Impacts Experience
- 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
