Fort Wayne Artist Relief Fund

About the Artist Relief Fund Grant

The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne and Arts United of Greater Fort Wayne have established an Artist Relief Fund to help the following individuals who have lost income due to COVID-19:

• Self-employed artists of all disciplines
• Artists contracted by arts and culture nonprofit organizations
• Employees who have been laid off or furloughed by a nonprofit arts and culture organization or venue

Funding is available for:

• Those that received funding in Round I may reapply for up to $500 in additional funding for basic needs.
• Those that did not receive funding in Round I but would now like to apply for up to $500 in funding for food, rent, caregiving, medical expenses, etc.
• Creative ways to reimagine your artistic practice up to $2,000

Additional eligibility criteria may apply.

Funding for this program is made available by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation Fund, the Edna Foundation Fund, and other charitable donations from the community.

The first round of the Artist Relief Fund distributed 89 grants totaling $57,410 between May and August 2020 to self-employed artists of all disciplines, artists contracted by arts and culture nonprofits, and furloughed employees of arts and culture nonprofits.

About Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

In a previous round of stimulus funding, unemployment insurance was expanded to cover independent contractors, gig workers, and other 1099 workers whose income has been limited due to COVID-19. This new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program will is accepting applications through June 2020.

The PUA program provides up to 39 weeks of unemployment benefits, similar to the assistance available to traditional employees who have been laid off from their jobs.

To access this assistance, workers should start by filing for unemployment with the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. They will receive a denial for the state’s traditional unemployment insurance, which is necessary before they can be considered eligible for the PUA program.

After the denial, workers will be required to log into their Uplink account and add an employer. Most 1099 workers will not be able to find their employer name on the provided list, so they will click a button that says “I am unable to find my employer in the search results.” This will create an area to add information regarding self-employment.

For more information, visit the Department of Workforce Development’s website, or contact Northeast Indiana Works online or by phone at 260-459-1400.

Resources for applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

Coronavirus Eviction and Foreclosure Resource Guide

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (FAQ | Instructions)

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Save Small Business Fund

Persevering: The Arts and COVID-19 Webinar Series

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance