COLUMBUS, Ohio — COVID-19 Emergency Relief for Artists program is open for a fourth round of grants of up to $850 per artist thanks to a $30,000 grant from the PNC Foundation.
The COVID-19 Emergency Relief for Artists program is designed to assist artists of all disciplines living in Franklin County with the financial impacts of COVID-19, including:
- Recouping financial loss due to cancelled events, including performances, paid speaking engagements, readings, exhibitions and festival/fairs.
- Offsetting loss of income for teaching artists who are not able to teach during this time due to cancelled lessons/classes and school closures.
Artists are eligible to request up to $850, with priority being given to those with the direst needs of shelter, food and other essentials.
“As a bank, we recognize our role as a pillar of the communities we serve. We are actively working with those affected by the pandemic, providing a variety of solutions that make the most sense for meeting their needs,” said Mary Auch, PNC regional president for Columbus. “We recognize the widespread hardship brought about by the pandemic here at home and are proud to play a part in supporting our community in this challenging time.”
Additional financial support from other corporate and community donors and incredible individual generosity helped make this fourth round of grants possible. Funding for the grants is also supported by Equitas Health, Crane Group, The Columbus Foundation Emergency Relief Fund and The Columbus Foundation Arts Innovation Prize Fund, Nick Akins, Huntington, IGS, Lee Shackelford Family Fund and Bank of America. One hundred percent of donations to the fund go directly to artists.
Since the effort began March 19, it has raised $219,100 from the Columbus community to supplement the Arts Council’s initial $150,000 commitment. To date 333 artists have been awarded $256,666 for wages lost due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Applications are now open with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, Apr. 28. Grants will be reviewed and awarded by Friday, May 1. For full program details please visit the COVID-19 Emergency Relief for Artists Guidelines.
The Greater Columbus Arts Council receives major financial support from the City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners and the Ohio Arts Council.
About PNC Foundation
The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group (www.pnc.com), actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. Through Grow Up Great, its signature cause that began in 2004, PNC has created a bilingual $500 million, multi-year initiative to help prepare children from birth to age 5 for success in school and life.
Mission of the Greater Columbus Arts Council: To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
For translations of this release and other pages, please see the dropdown menu at the top right corner of gcac.org.
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CONTACT: Jami Goldstein
(614) 221-8492
jgoldstein@gcac.org
