Arts & Culture Resources

Resources for the Arts Community - COVID-19

Updated 9/22/20: Newton Cultural Development, along with NCA and the Newton Cultural Council, have compiled a list of resources geared toward the arts community. We hope you will find this list useful during this extraordinary time.

LOCAL

City of Newton - Newton COVID-19 Care Fund
Mass Cultural Council - COVID-19 Resources
MA Small Business Recovery Loan Fund - provides emergency capital up to $75,000 to Massachusetts-based businesses impacted by COVID-19 with fewer than 50 full- and part-time employees, including nonprofits
Passim Emergency Artist Relief Fund - for artists who “have played a gig for Passim (or taught in the School of Music) in the last 10 years.”
Theatre Community Benevolent Fund - for individual practitioners & nonprofit theatre orgs. of Greater Boston
WBUR, The ARTery - Grants & Resources For Artists & Nonprofits

NATIONAL

The Actors Fund - COVID-19 Emergency Relief - for professionals in film, theater, television, music, opera, radio, and dance, providing emergency financial assistance for living and/or medical expenses
Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation - Emergency Grant Program - for qualified painters, printmakers, & sculptors
American Guild of Musical Artists - AGMA Relief Fund - for AGMA members in good standing
Artists' Charitable Fund - for painters & sculptors in need of help with medical bills
Artists' Fellowship, Inc. - emergency aid for professional visual artists with immediate medical emergencies
Artist Relief Tree - any artist can apply for a grant of $250. The fund has been exhausted for the moment, but artists can sign up for the waitlist here.
Artwork Archive - list of international financial relief resources for artists during COVID-19
Blues Foundation - HART Fund (Handy Artists Relief Trust) - for blues musicians in need of medical and dental care
CERF+ The Artists Safety Net - Craft Emergency Relief Fund - for artists
Equal Sound - Musicians' Corona Relief Fund - for musicians who have had a performance/gig canceled due to coronavirus
Foundation for Contemporary Arts - FCA Emergency Grants COVID-19 Fund - one-time $1,500 grants to artists who have had performances/exhibitions canceled or postponed because of the pandemic
Gospel Music Trust Fund - financial assistance in the event of an emergency or major catastrophe to individuals who have derived a substantial portion of their income from gospel music
Grantmakers in the Arts - COVID-19 & Arts Funding
International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) - Blue Grass Trust Fund - grants & loans, ranging from $500 to $5,000, are available to present and past professionals in bluegrass music in a time of emergency
Jazz Foundation of America - COVID-19 Musicians' Emergency Fund - for jazz & blues musicians who need help with basic living expenses
Recording Academy - MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund - music industry professionals impacted by canceled work may apply for an initial grant of up to $1,000 for basic living expenses
SAG-AFTRA Foundation - COVID-19 Relief Fund - for active SAG-AFTRA members for emergency funding to cover basic expenses
The Soze Agency - Artist + Activist Relief Fund - for artists who have been impacted by coronavirus. The fund is not currently accepting new applicants, but a waiting list is available.
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund - COVID-19 Fund - for musicians or music industry workers impacted by coronavirus for funds to cover medical and basic living expenses

Arts & Culture Resources

The City of Newton maintains numerous centers and resources that support and enhance cultural life for its residents, friends, and tourists. Get to know these valuable community resources:

Newton Community Preservation Program (Newton, MA)

The Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA) provides local and state funds for affordable housing, historic resources, open space, and recreation land. Click the link to learn more about current Newton CPA proposals and projects.

Newton Farmers' Market

The Newton Farmers' Market, now in its 40th year, is one of the oldest farmers' markets in Massachusetts. The city holds two seasonal farmers' markets: one on Saturdays in West Newton Square from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., June to October, and the other on Tuesdays in Cold Spring Park from 1:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., July to October. Markets are held rain or shine.

Massachusetts Cultural Council

The Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC) is a state agency that promotes excellence, access, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and interpretive sciences to improve the quality of life for all Massachusetts residents and contribute to the economic vitality of our communities. The Council pursues this mission through a combination of grant programs, partnerships, and services for nonprofit cultural organizations, schools, communities, and artists.

MASSCreative

MASSCreative works to build a more vibrant, healthy and equitable Massachusetts. The organization works with artists, leaders, supporters, and partners of the arts, cultural, and creative community to advocate for the resources and support necessary for the sector to thrive.

Cultural Development/Arts in the Parks

The Cultural Development office of the City of Newton promotes the arts and artists, and sponsors year-round cultural programs and events working closely with Newton Community Pride.

Newton-Needham Regional Chamber

The mission of the chamber is to champion the communities' economic and cultural vitality through advocacy, education and networking. Newton Cultural Alliance is a member of the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber.

Newton TAB

Newton's local news and happenings, via print and Newton Wicked Local online.

NewTV

NewTV is a nonprofit, Newton-based organization dedicated to providing the diverse Newton community with a platform for opinions, news, and local information. They also offer training, a media facility, and content distribution.

Newton Cultural Council

The Newton Cultural Council is the local agency of the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The mission of the NCC is to support public programs that promote excellence; and to distribute funds with a focus on developing and promoting an artistic, humanist, and scientific community and to help those individuals enrich Newton residents' lives with their work.