San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) and Grants for the Arts (GFTA) have launched an emergency relief fund—the San Francisco Arts & Artists Relief Fund—to mitigate COVID-19 related financial losses that artists and small to mid-size arts and culture organizations have suffered. San Francisco’s arts and culture ecosystem is fragile, vital, and at risk—it’s necessary we respond immediately. The San Francisco Arts & Artists Relief Fund will initially provide $1.5 million in financial support to the individuals and organizations that anchor our vulnerable and vitally important cultural communities.
The Fund will prioritize the financial needs of individuals and organizations who are of and serving cultural populations that have been and remain financially vulnerable—black, indigenous, immigrant, trans, and people with disabilities. It is imperative that we do not lose their participation in shaping the County’s unique and diverse cultural identity.
Individuals (artists, teaching artists, cultural producers, etc.) may apply for up to $2,000 and use the award however they see fit. Individual applicants will be invited to participate in an artist-to-artist listserv to exchange expertise, advice, and resources as a way to foster social connections during this time of financial crisis and social isolation. Awards to organizations (501c3 nonprofits, fiscally sponsored organizations, collectives and mutual aid societies of artists, artist cooperatives, cultural land trusts, etc.) will range up to $25,000 and will be scaled based on budget size, up to $2 million. These general operating grants may be used to pay rent and salaries, to retain employees, and to help keep artists and organizations in San Francisco.
Eligibility
Applicants may apply as either an Individual or as an Organization; to request funds as both is not eligible.
Individuals (artists, teaching artists, cultural producers, etc.):
- Must be a full-time resident of San Francisco;
- Must not be eligible for, or currently on unemployment; and
- Must not have already received support from this Fund.
Organizations (501c3 nonprofits, fiscally sponsored organizations, collectives and mutual aid societies of artists, artist cooperatives, cultural land trusts, etc.):
- Must conduct primary business in, and have services* that benefit San Francisco (there is no residency requirement for employees);
- Must not be a Cultural Center operating in a City-owned building
- Annual operating budget may not exceed $2 million (Funding amounts will be based on the actual budget size of the most recently completed fiscal year, using the following tiers: For budgets up to $999,999, grants will be up to $10,000; for budgets of $1M- $1,499,999, grants will be up to $15,000; and for budgets of $1.5-$2 million, grants will be up to $25,000.);
- Must not have already received support from this Fund;
**Commercial businesses are not eligible to apply**
*Organizational applicants that are using a fiscal sponsor must be based in the San Francisco Bay Area and 75% of their programming must take place in the City and County of San Francisco. This requirement refers to the applicant and not the location or activities of the fiscal sponsor.
Guidelines
Please review the program guidelines prior to applying here.
Apply
Applications will be accepted until April 15, 2020 at 5 p.m. PST.
The San Francisco Arts & Artists Relief Fund online application can be accessed at: ccigrants.gosmart.org
Applications will be accepted online ONLY through CCI’s GO Smart™ system. All new applicants MUST register for an account with the GO Smart™ system before they will be able to access the grant application.
Questions
If you have questions about the Fund or the application process, contact CCI at grants@cciarts.org or (415) 288-0530.
The San Francisco Arts & Artists Relief Fund is made possible by the San Francisco Arts Commission, Grants for the Arts, John & Marcia Goldman Foundation, and individual donors.
