LISTING FOR GRANTS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE FOR ARTISTS AFFECTED BY HURRICANE SANDY

Provided by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, click here for a list of organizations providing assistance including emergency grants to artists.

Information and resources for artists coping with damage sustained by the storm, as well as ways to pitch in and help some of the worst affected Lower Manhattan residents and businesses.

ARTISTS

Emergency Resources for Artists:
Artists, please note: if any of your work or live/work space has been damaged, take pictures and keep receipts of whatever you spend during this time.

Self-employed people are eligible for ‘disaster unemployment insurance’ in areas where a federal declaration of disaster has been declared. About.com explains more: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/unemployment/g/disasterunemployment.htm

LMCC’s Emergency Grants List:
http://www.lmcc.net/uploads/grants/forms/2012-Fundraising-Emergency_Grants.pdf

NYFA’s Emergency Grants List:
http://www.nyfa.org/source/content/content/disasterresources/disasterresources.aspx?DRID=54&CID=5&UDRID

Joan Mitchell Foundation: sent out this message after the Hurricane:
“If you are – or know of – a visual artist who has been affected by the hurricane please contact us. The Foundation has funding allocated specifically for emergency assistance to painters and sculptors affected by natural disasters… We know that communication for many is very limited now, but our staff can be reached by email at: info@joanmitchellfoundation.org.”

Small Business Disaster Relief Loans:
Federal: Small Business Administration
(http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/loans-grants/small-business-loans/disaster-loans

City: Department of Small Business Services has set up a Sandy recovery website (http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/home/home.shtml). For more information about the loans, call 311 and ask for NYC Business Solutions.

Links to salvage / conservation / recovery information:
Conservation OnLine: http://cool.conservation-us.org/byorg/nps/npsafter.html
Studio Protector: http://www.studioprotector.org/OnlineGuide/Salvage.aspx
American Institute for Conservation: http://www.conservation-us.org/disaster
National Center for Preservation Technology and Training:
http://ncptt.nps.gov/wet-recovery/
Heritage Preservation: http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TASKFER.HTM
Craft Emergency Relief Fund: http://craftemergency.org/emergency-response
Arts Ready: https://www.artsready.org/page/useful_links
National Document Conservation Center: http://www.nedcc.org/disaster/disaster.php (Hotline: +1.978.470.1010)
MoMA consortium on conserving works released this document on emergency handling of artwork damaged by flooding.

Other:
Christie’s: Christie’s is arranging space for Downtown artists to use their laptops and charge their phones, and may be able to assist galleries with storage space for their art. Those interested, please call (212) 468-7177.

New York City Economic Development Corporation: For any business temporarily displaced, NYCEDC may have short-term “swing” office or storage space: information at www.nyc.gov/nycbusiness.

New York City Arts Coalition offers helpful information about FEMA: Federal disaster resources will be dependent on your (or your arts group/business) being registered at FEMA. Go to www.disasterassistance.gov.

NOTE: Performing Arts groups:
The federal legislation that controls eligibility had some limitations after 9/11, which the Chair of NYSCA, Richard Schwartz, was able to work with the Pataki administration to have lifted. This means that Performing Arts groups may be told they are ineligible. Please let us know if this happens to you.

NOTE: Individuals:
You may want to also go to register at NYC Communities for Change
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6245/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=6487 They assist with tracking and follow-up with FEMA and may help individuals with the FEMA process.

Law Office of Sergio Munoz Sarmiento: Phone consultations free of charge to address questions pertaining to rights and possible compensation for damaged artwork or studios as a result of Hurricane Sandy. For more information: http://artlawoffice.com/2012/11/ny-artists-legal-information/.

RESIDENTS

As Lower Manhattan grappled with the devastation brought on by Hurricane Sandy, many low-income residents of the Lower East Side and Chinatown, particularly older or disabled individuals, were stuck in their homes with little to no access to food and water. A number of community partners are working with local residents to help them recover from the storm and damages incurred. Please visit their websites or contact their offices to find out how you can volunteer or how you can help directly support their efforts.

Two Bridges Neighborhood Council:
http://www.twobridges.org/2012-06-18-20-38-08/what-s-new/156-hurricane-sandy
Emailing them at info@twobridges.org may be the easiest way to reach them for the time being.

CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities:

Home

Good Old Lower East Side:
http://www.goles.org/

The Jewish Community Project is also organizing some volunteer efforts in Lower Manhattan. Email info@jcpdowntown.org to help or to request assistance.

The Lower East Side Recovers is a site coordinating needs, gives, and volunteer opportunities: https://lowereastside.recovers.org/

Make your mark on culture by supporting LMCC! Your gift will allow us continue to fulfill our mission to serve artists and arts audiences Downtown and throughout Manhattan’s diverse communities.

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council (LMCC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has been a leading voice for arts and culture Downtown and throughout New York City for over 35 years, producing cultural events and promoting the arts through grants, services, advocacy, and cultural development programs.