With the closure of performing venues, arts galleries and festivals, artists who typically make the majority of their income from their work are facing difficult economic challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis. To help offset some of the economic impact, Arts Huntsville has launched an Individual Artist Emergency Relief Grant Fund in spring 2020 to provide individual artists – musicians, visual artists, writers, dancers, theatre artists, etc. – with grants of $250 to $500 to cover immediate expenses. Arts Huntsville launched this Individual Artist Emergency Relief Fund with $25,000 and through community contributions the fund provided $40,000 in Relief Grants. Arts Huntsville awarded 105 grants supporting 76 local artists from April thru July 2020.

Arts Huntsville’s three-person Individual Artist Emergency Relief Grant Panel (comprised Arts Huntsville Board and staff) reviewed applications on a rolling basis. Emergency Relief Grants will be disbursed weekly as funds were available.

Criteria to determine eligibility:

1. Must be a resident of Madison County.

2. Must have been working in the arts for at least 3 years.

3. Must derive at least 50% of total income from the arts.

4. Must demonstrate losses in excess of $500. (Examples of financial losses include cancelled events, including performances in all performing arts disciplines, gallery showings, and readings, etc. Offsetting loss of income for teaching artists who could not teach during this time because of cancelled classes and school closures. Special consideration will be given to those without health insurance and/or sick days and loss of supplemental employment.)