Last updated April 17, 2020.
Since early March our team has been working to assemble information for artists, arts organizations, educators, and other folks who work in the arts to access as they navigate this uncertain time. We hope the information provided below.
Please reach out with questions or with ideas on information you think we should include.
For COVID-19 information please visit the Rhode Island Department of Health.
If you have any resources you think should be added to this page, please email Todd Trebour, Organizations Program Director: todd.trebour@arts.ri.gov.
Working with RISCA.
Please visit our Working with RISCA blog for updated information from our team.
What will happen to my grant?
We understand the need to be flexible. If your RISCA-supported grant for a program or event is schedule during this time we are allowing for postponement and rescheduling. If necessary RISCA will also extend the grant project period. Please contact your program director via email to alert them to the changes.
If you’ve received Big Yellow School Bus or Arts Talk funding and the event is cancelled, please contact Maggie Anderson at maggie.anderson@arts.ri.gov.
Resources.
- Apply or donate to the Artist Relief Fund. This fund is to help Rhode Island artists who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund has a rolling deadline. The Fund is managed by the Alliance of Artists Communities.
- RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT) Workplace Fact Sheet.
- DLT information for gig economy worker, contract worker, small business owner, worker for hire, self-employed, or other individual ineligible for regular unemployment insurance, who is out of work because of COVID-19, to apply via the Internet for COVID-19 Emergency Unemployment Insurance benefits.
- DLT WorkShare information allows employers to retain their skilled workers during times of slowdown by simply reducing the work hours of a larger group of employees.
- Cash assistance from the Department of Human Services (DHS) – RI Works Call Department of Health and Human Services Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM by calling 1-855-MY-RIDHS (1-855-697-4347).
- Food assistance or SNAP.
- Heat assistance (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program – LIHEAP) Assistance – Apply at your local Community Action Agency
- Health insurance reach out to HealthSource RI
- Arts & Business Council of Boston is willing to advise artists and arts organizations on contracts, insurance, and labor and employment issues due to the coronavirus. Let them know RISCA referred you.
- Access to Microsoft Office tools Call 401-521-HELP for support.
- Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Assistance and coronavirus resources,
- Alliance of Artists Community emergency relief programs.
- American Alliance of Museums coronavirus information.
- Creative Capital resource page.
- Americans for the Arts Coronavirus Resource Center.
- COVID-19 Freelance Artists Resources.
- CERF+ (also known as the Artist’s Safety Net).
Resources for Educators.
- Teaching Theatre Online.
- Resources for Teaching Dance Online.
- Moving Teaching Online Quickly.
- Lesson plans and teaching resources for arts, focused on K-12. Community sourced, being updated and added to.
- Georgia Fine Arts Instructional Resources.
- Google Classroom tutorial in Spanish (on YouTube).
- Overview of state policy responses and other executive actions in public schools across the US.
- Adjusting to a New Normal by EdNote.