The Southeast Michigan arts and culture sector is experiencing unprecedented challenges and yet unknown impacts from the spread of the novel coronavirus. The COVID-19 Arts and Creative Community Assistance Fund is a partnership between CultureSource and the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. With support from generous contributors, the fund aims to offer financial relief and hope to our community given the negative pressures of the current crisis environment.

The fund includes two grant programs: one for relief and resiliency (open now) and one for innovation (open soon). Though this fund is not able to meet 100% of the financial need existing in the regional cultural sector, its strategic use with nonprofit arts and culture organizations aspires to broadly benefit the creative ecosystem. Fund Contributors The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, DeRoy Testamentary Foundation, Kresge Foundation, Peck Foundation, Leinweber Foundation, Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, Ford Foundation, and William Davidson Foundation. The fund is continuing to accept contributions. Relief and Resiliency Grant Details

The relief and resiliency grant program is open for receiving applications.

Grant amounts are $10,000 each and funds should be used to pay for expenses including staff payroll costs (including healthcare), artist or contractor fees, operating expenses, and new, unexpected costs relating to COVID-19. Relief and resiliency fund applications are due by May 1, 2020.

Eligible applicants to the relief grant program are 501c3 nonprofit organizations that have arts and culture as their primary mission and that are located in one of the seven counties of Southeast Michigan. Successful applicants will have a two-year track record of robust artistic or cultural programming and they will likely include organizations historically underrepresented in institutional philanthropy grantmaking.

Applying

The brief, five-question application asks about your current situation and needs and is accessible HERE. Decisions will be made by a committee of fund contributors with notifications of grant decisions sent May 15, 2020 (approx.) via email. Grant payments will be sent out May 22, 2020.

To apply, visit https://culturesource.org/stories/creative-community-assistance-fund/ Questions? For questions about eligibility and application content, contact CultureSource fiscal service specialist Jane Linn: jlinn@culturesource.org or (313) 831-1151.