Where Can I Get Help?

For Artists/Arts Organizations:

Your Local State Arts Agency and Southern Arts Federation: The Southern Arts Federation established the Emergency Relief Fund in early September to provide assistance to artists and arts organizations along the Gulf Coast who have been affected by the 2005 Hurricane season. Funds raised will go directly to the state arts agencies of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for distribution these include:

• The Louisiana Division of the Arts
  Working directly with the Louisiana Partnership for the Arts and the Arts Council of New Orleans to assess impact and develop relief and recovery mechanisms for artists and arts organizations throughout our state. Fill out an application for their registry of misplaced artists.
  
  
• Mississippi Arts Commission
  Gathering news from around the state of damage to artistic, heritage and cultural treasures, as well as that incurred by artists and arts organizations. The Commission also is gathering information on funding opportunities for artists and arts organizations who suffered loss because of the storm.
  
  
• Alabama State Council on the Arts
  The Alabama State Council on the Arts is acting as a clearinghouse for artists regarding needs, opportunities and people with skills who have been displaced due to the hurricane.
  
  
• Other organizations supporting artists/arts organizations impacted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita (compiled by the Center for the Study of Art and Community). Learn which organizations are supporting artists (PDF)
  
  
• National Endowment for the Arts:
  Download Before and After Disasters: Federal Funding for Cultural Institutions, which includes summary descriptions and contact information for 15 federal grant and loan programs and covers sources of federal assistance for preparedness, mitigation, and response, as well as for recovery. Sample projects in disaster planning, training, treatment research, and restoration illustrate the funding guidelines.
  
  
• Delaware City
  Delaware City and the Delaware Division of the Arts are partnering to provide opportunity grants and favorable rent/purchase terms to Gulf Coast artists who relocate to the area. Delaware City is a small, 19th-century town located at the entrance to the Delaware River with quaint, two-story houses that could provide joint living/studio space for artists. The town is creating a Crafts Community similar to the programs in Paducah, KY and Johnstown, PA with support from Delaware By Hand, a local nonprofit organization that promotes crafts and traditional arts. Within close proximity to several tourist attractions, Delaware City annually hosts two major festivals and several smaller scale festivals and additionally, receives over 30,000 visitors a year to Fort Delaware where the Division of Natural Resources runs a gift shop for local goods. Gulf Coast artists who are interested in relocating should e-mail Bonny Anderson for additional details about the program.
  
  
• KatrinaArtists.com
  The purpose of the site is to give artists affected by Hurricane Katrina a free place to park information about their work and possibly attract a different crowd online. It is completely free - there is no fine print or strings attached. The site's creator, Shawn Lea, grew up on the Coast; Shawn's parents' home was destroyed by Katrina. For more information about the project e-mail Shawn Lea
  
  
• The Southeastern Museums Conference
  Offers assistance to museums and museum employees through three funds.
  
  
• The Drilling Company in Manhattan
  The Drilling Company is looking for displaced New Orleans/Gulf Coast playwrights and story tellers for the purpose of presenting their work in Manhattan and will raise funds to aid in their recovery and the restitution of their homes. For further details, call 212-229-8310.
  
  
• Young Audiences Woodruff Arts Center
  Woodruff Arts Center is offering to provide work for the Young Audiences artists displaced by Hurricane Katrina. They are also attempting to locate the staff and artists from their chapter in New Orleans. Please spread the word to other artists in the community. Displaced staff and artists should contact Associate Director Myrna Lubin at (404) 733-5328.
  
  
• The Craft Emergency Fund (CERF) offers relief assistance such as small grants, no interest loans, access to resources, waivers and discounts on booth fees, and donations of craft supplies and equipment to professional craft artists facing emergencies. CERF has created a Disaster Recovery Message Board on their Web site. Persons may use the message board to offer or search for help, tools, a place to work, advice, encouragement, etc. For information, contact CERF at 802-229-2306 or e-mail.
  
  
• Swine Palace Productions of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has established a clearing house for groups providing support to artists and arts organizations affected by Hurricane Katrina. The effort is known as Arts Unite for Hurricane Relief.
  
  
• The Acadiana Center for the Arts , with support from Project HEAL (Helping Employ Artists Locally - ), is issuing a call for artists to submit work for consideration in an exhibit that will appear at the AcA early next year. "Sustained Winds: before - during - after" will focus on the experiences of Gulf Coast artists who have been affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For more information, please visit the Web site or contact Rose Macaluso at 337-233-7060.
  
  
• Paul Karabashian , an artist in Reading, Pennsylvania, is offering multi-use studio space for displaced artists. There is approximately 40,000 square feet of space available in a converted industrial set of buildings. The space has been renovated, fully equipped with modern conveniences, and is ideal for working artists in all media. Studio sizes range from 500 to 20,000 square feet and is available for $5 per square foot. Reading is located within 2 hours of NYC, and 1 ½ hours from Philadelphia. Contact Paul at (717) 283-5294 -or e-mail.
  
  
• Ford Foundation Commits $10 Million to Rebuilding Gulf Coast: grants include cultural revitalization and a gift to New Orleans’ Ashe Cultural Center – Philanthropy News Digest (11/10/05)
  
  

General:

• American Red Cross
  Search the most comprehensive listing of assistance being provided for Emergency Needs, Shelter and Housings, Schooling, Jobs, Health and Safety, Pet Owners, and Coping with Disasters.
  
  
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Delve into key facts for hurricane recovery, including how to prevent illness, keep food and water safe, prevent injury and confront mental/emotional health.
  
  
• FirstGov.gov
  Find FAQ’s on what the government is doing to assist with Hurricane recovery, how to deal with Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) protocol and other topics.
  
  

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