Updated, March 16th, 8:38pm PT.
The world is shifting to adapt to the spreading of COVID-19. Many are affected. Below is a list of ideas and resources that I’ve compiled here so that we can help support one another as we all discover the way forward.
Artist’s Services Mutual Aid List
This is a list I’m putting together of artists who are offering services that still work during times of social distancing and/or quarantine.
- Sign Up Here: https://forms.gle/Mhi1mESvqgeuSRxr6
- Visit the List Here: http://asmal.mystrikingly.com/
Ideas
Here are a bunch of thoughtful ideas that began with a post from my dear friend Priya Darshini.
Musicians, performing artists, and other self-employed and freelance folks are taking a huge hit during this time. Here are a few ways to support them:
- Buy their music online and from their websites
- Subscribe to their channels
- Request private concert for you and your family (live streamed!?!) and pay the artists well.
- Commission them for new works.
- Pay them for cancelled gigs if you are able to.
- ASK THEM TO SET UP A TIP JAR (Venmo or Paypal) and just send them money ($1, $5, $10) – we don’t have to be transactional during this time.
A lot of amazing folks are currently working on ways to support artists at this time. Reach out to them and see how you can help. Here are a few:
The people who will get hit the most are folks who can’t afford to stay home. It’s a privilege if we can afford to stay in. There are people working jobs, risking themselves to all kinds of viruses all the time and this time is no different for them. Please find a way to support them. Here are some ways to begin:
- Share your groceries
- Drop off needed items, if they’re having to be at work.
- Share your hand sanitizers since you can stay home and wash your hands!
- Make extra food to give away
Do you have extra resources. Were you one of the folks who stocked up early. Remember that your readiness can be a support to others. Consider sharing some of your extra stock with neighbors who a currently in need.
More Ideas
If you are in an area where businesses have had to close or restrict services. Here are some ways to support:
- Buy their gift cards
- Buy their merchandise (think T-shirts from your local restaurant)
If you are a business and have access to buying household essentials in bulk, you can become a resource for your community and neighbors. Remember, please do not price gouge.
Resources and Lists
- FindHelp.org – it does just what it says.
- Template for artists to track lost revenue.
- Here’s a website that’s compiling resources for freelance artists.
- And another huge repository of resources.
- And yet another huge repository of resources.
- A huge resource for Multi-lingual needs re: COVID-19
- A List from Dance.nyc for the New York City dance community
Distance Learning Resources
- Here’s a helpful document for those of us being thrust into distance learning through video conferencing.
- Three documents from Katie Friedman
- Preparing Students for distance learning
- Distance Learning Curriculum Unit Template
- A Social Story to help students process the change of school closures.
How-To’s
- Make a poster of your favorite song lyrics to help you remember how long to wash your hands.
- A guide to develop a Neighborhood Aid Network (the other thing that is needed when social distancing/isolation is enforced) from Harvard Medical School.
Free Music
- Here you can enjoy the Berlin Philharmonie for free with their digital concert hall.
- Enjoy The Metropolitan Opera as they stream live for FREE every night, March 16-22.
- Korg and Moog offer FREE MUSIC APPS
More Events
- The Social Distancing Festival – ongoing
- Reimagine – Social Isolation Breaks – in development
- COVID FEST – March 28th
Ways of Support
- A list of ideas to support the Seattle Creative community – a good reminder to think local.
- A resource list by Kevin Adler (Miracle Messages) to coordinate those who have with those who need, specifically supporting neighbors experiencing homelessness.
- A brand new Artist Relief Fund that started on Facebook. This just closed, but you could start your own!
- Artist micro-grants.
- Announcement of healthcare support for Artists in the U.S.
Additional Information
- Why COVID-19 Spreads Exponentially – Washington Post.
- A thoughtful TED Talk about COVID-19 and healthcare systems.
- A TED Interview about the model for the spread of COVID-19.
- A thoughtful daily coronavirus update podcast.
- A short paper by Nassim Nicholas Taleb on Risk and COVID-19.
- An interesting article on the History of Pandemics.
Impact Surveys to Fill Out
- Vancouver Performing Artists – https://www.gvpta.ca/covid19_survey
- New York City Dancers – http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5497557/Coronavirus-Impact-Survey
If you have a resource or idea you’d like me to add to this list, please send it here.
If you’d like to support me during this time check out three ways here.