Artists, artisans, musicians, actors and writers bring vibrancy, color and life to our Rappahannock community — but a number of them are financially strapped in this time of uncertainty and economic disruption.
In the spirit of RAAC’s mission to support the arts in Rappahannock, we are renewing a relief assistance program for qualified artists in the form of modest grants, ranging from $100 to $500, to help with lost art-related income during 2021. Individuals who received an award in 2020 are considered eligible but must submit a new application.
This level of aid is consistent with RAAC’s finances as a small nonprofit organization. We believe that timely levels of modest financial support have the potential for making a real difference for those who’ve experienced unforeseen declines in their work as artists. Our hope is that RAAC’s Artists’ Relief Program will complement other County resources like the Food Pantry and Benevolent Fund.
Applicant Eligibility
- Applicants must be over 18 years old and a Rappahannock-based artist.
- The Artist Relief Program is intended to offset some of the art-related income lost because of cancelled, postponed, or foregone opportunities or projects caused by Covid-19 restrictions. Examples include:
- cancelled commissioned or ordered art work
- cancelled readings, musical performances, art fairs and exhibitions for which there was anticipated payment and/or sales of artwork
- RAAC board members, members of their immediate households, and the Fund’s review committee are ineligible for assistance.
Grant Amounts and Limits
Financial assistance, from $100 to $500, is offered to offset lost art-related income. This aid can be used at the applicant’s discretion to best serve their needs. There is a maximum of $500 in aid per applicant during 2021.
How to Apply
Complete and submit the form at the bottom of this page. Applications may be submitted at any time and will be reviewed monthly beginning the last week in February. Awards will be made on a rolling basis.
If you have questions before submitting an application, please contact artistrelief@raac.org.
Application Review and Confidentiality
A review committee consisting of RAAC board members and community members will evaluate applications, make awards, handle questions, and maintain records.
All applications and inquiries are strictly confidential. Only members of the review committee will have access to applicant information. Names and all personal information will remain confidential and stored securely.
Final Reporting
There is no final report required for this financial assistance.
Other Sources of Local Help
To contact the Food Pantry, call Mimi Forbes or Laura Lucas at 540-987-5090 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays. Or email them at mimi@rappahannockpantry.org
To contact the Benevolent Fund, call Berni Olson at 540-671-0421 or email her at BerniOlson@rappbenfund.org.
For the State, contact Virginia Commission for the Arts www.arts.virginia.gov and search The Emergency Relief Fund for Individual Artists.
For Virginia’s Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)program go to
https://www.vec.virginia.gov/html/pua.html. Individuals and artists who are self-employed, independent contractors, gig economy workers may apply.
The Artist Relief Program is an initiative that provides immediate, unrestricted emergency funding of $5,000 for individual artists throughout the United States, of all disciplines, and resources to help those in need due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Visit artistrelief.org for information.
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