ARTISTS, MUSICIANS & GIG WORKERS:
Please note that the inclusion of these links and sources does not constitute an endorsement by the Downtown Fort Collins Creative District. (updated 1/15/2021)
RECENT UPDATES - (updated as changes come in!)
- COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. CERF+ is now accepting applications for the third cycle of grants, a one-time $1,000 grants to artists working in craft disciplines who continue to face dire food, housing, and medical insecurities caused by the pandemic. The third cycle will accept applications starting Wednesday, January 13, 2021, at 9 a.m. (ET) and close on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at 5 p.m. (ET). Priority will be given to eligible artists who have traditionally been underserved by the grantmaking community, including people of color and folk and traditional artists.
- Cares Act renewed and business loans, direct payments and unemployment benefits are renewed
- New Marketplace — Sell your art or experiences on Fort Collins Marketplace! Easy and all Fort Collins – run by Visit Fort Collins to support small businesses
- Pro Bono Attorneys services for Colorado businesses affected by COVID www.coloradocovidrelief.org
FUNDS/GRANTS
- ALL ARTISTS:
- Help for Artists and Musicians Affected by the Fires and COVID – Emergency Relief for Artists Working In Craft Disciplines — CERF+’s emergency assistance includes grants and/or brokered assistance, such as booth fee waivers and discounts or donations of supplies and equipment. To learn more about our eligibility requirements and guidelines, visit the website or contact us at relief@cerfplus.org.
- Take Note Colorado, a responsive, competitive opportunity for individuals and organizations statewide to offer highly inclusive, culturally relevant and student-centered music instruction. Individuals can apply for up to $10,000 to develop programming that meets Take Note’s goals.
- MUSIC INDUSTRY:
- NoCo Music Event Fund – Apply for a grant for your event through Bohemian Foundation
- MusiCares who provide support for musicians and music industry
- Bandcamp Fridays music support program is extended into 2021! They will waive their site fees to any music sold on these Fridays! on February 5th, March 5th, April 2nd, and May 7th.
- Music Folks need someone to help walk you through an application? Just need someone to help out with tough questions? The Music District is providing general application support consultations for music industry folks, sign up here!
- OTHER:
- ArtistCommunities.org offers a list of emergency relief programs
- Food industry workers: get help at the Colorado Restaurant Association Foundation’s Angel Relief Fund
- FUNDS FOR YOUR SPECIFIC ART! See more relief options at our Discipline Specific Resources
FOOD
- Food Bank of Larimer County – where you can see if you qualify for food donations
- Hunger Free Colorado – apply for food, cash, medical assistance, or other programs
- Any Needs Call or Text #211 to connect with United Way of Larimer County’s help hotline.
- Locally distributed food and hygiene products open to anyone in need by Serve 6.8, a Christian nonprofit working with churches
- Vindeket Foods – a food/produce rescue program/storefront, providing free food boxes that can cater to food restrictions such as gluten free, vegetarian,.. (Pay what you can, volunteer)
HEALTH & MENTAL HEALTH
- HEALTH:
- COVID-19 tests — UCHealth is ready to help! Find the testing closest to you
- Get FREE mental, emergency dental and advance care planning locally (The Health District) or call or text at #211 to connect with United Way of Larimer County’s help hotline.
- MusiCares – Addiction and other health resources for professionals in the music industry
- MENTAL HEALTH:
- Support during COVID – Larimer County Health COVID Resources & Services
- Join other musicians and creatives at a FREE weekly virtual mental wellness meetup for musicians. (MusicMindsMatter.org)
- Larimer County Emotional and Mental Health Resources
HOUSING
- Rent assistance from Neighbor to Neighbor
- Affordable Housing – get help finding it in our community (FCGov.com)
- Call #211 to connect with United Way of Larimer County’s help hotline
JOBS & MARKETPLACES
- Larimer County Economic & Workforce for current openings and answers about employment and unemployment
- Connecting Colorado for Job Seekers and Employers
- FoCoFreelance.com – Register here as a Fort Collins Freelancer looking for jobs or help with projects
- Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce member businesses job postings
- Fort Collins Marketplace – An online platform for selling your Fort Collins art
FAMILY RESOURCES
- Colorado Child Care Collaborative – Childcare for essential employees while they return to work.
- Childcare-related COVID-19 resource page at the Early Childhood Council of Larimer County
- Call or Text 211 to connect with United Way of Larimer County’s help hotline.
UNEMPLOYMENT
- How to File for Unemployment
- UNEMPLOYMENT for Gig Workers & Contractors (1099 workers) (Site has a chat box and/or watch a helpful Q &A video here)
- Get the latest on applying for unemployment at (303) 860-5881 or oedit_sbnavigator@state.co.us
- Unemployment Scenarios – Both for employees and employers – Prepared by Larimer SBDC
- Claiming Unemployment: A guide to claiming unemployment under provisions in the CARES Act.
- Watch helpful unemployment Q&A video here from the Colorado Office of Film and Video
- Qualifying for Benefits and Benefits Calculator
- COVID-19 Pandemic Scenarios & Benefits Available (ENGLISH)
- COVID-19 Escenarios en la Pandemia y Beneficios Disponibles (SPANISH)
LOCAL BUSINESS RESOURCES
- NETWORKING & GROUPS:
- NoCo Gigging Musician Facebook Group – join here to hear about all things concerning musicians and COVID
- ALSO see our Discipline specific page for individual Facebook groups and more!
- Keep NoCo Open – Full graphics, videos and messaging in English and Spanish Download all the assets HERE – Marketing Kit here
- TOOLS:
- See our collection of Creative Tools and Tips about virtual events, webinars, best practices, classes, podcasts and livestreaming
- OTHER:
- Document and share your experience through COVID-19 with History Colorado
THE LAUNCHPAD SERIES- by The Music District
- Episode #1 The Cares Act Part 1– What freelancers can apply for in the CARES Act, Livestreaming and much more
- Episode #2 Financial Assistance for the Music Industry – Highlights the stories of several NoCo musicians and industry workers who have applied for relief funding.
- Episode #3 Level up Your Livestream – tune into this workshop to learn more about accessible tech and tactics to improve your livestream game.
- Episode #4 Save Our Stages: The Future of Live Music in FoCo & Beyond – We’ll discuss what a return to live music could look like, how independent venues are making it through COVID-19, and what you can do to #SupportOurStages.
- Episode #5 Play it Safe! Evaluating Today’s Live Music Opportunities – Join us for a discussion between local and regional musicians and music workers about how artists, hosts, talent buyers, and promoters are evaluating live performance opportunities, keeping themselves and their audiences safe, and navigating new types of challenges to playing live.
- Episode #6 – Sync Licensing – placement of music in film, television, video games, and advertisements can be a huge asset in an artist’s career, but the sync world is often difficult to navigate without the proper network, music supervisor-friendly tunes, and business acumen required. Discussion about breaking into the world of sync licensing.
STATE BUSINESS RESOURCES
- COLORADO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS:
- Colorado Creative Industries – resources for artists and creative industry
- Colorado Business Committee for the Arts
- INFORMATION & SERVICES:
- Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) released the 2020 Colorado Creative Economy Report, studying the Creative Economy in before and during the COVID-19 pandemic The report was prepared in collaboration with CCI and Dr. Michael Seman of Colorado State University’s LEAP Institute for the Arts and Regional Economic Development Institute.
NATIONAL BUSINESS RESOURCES
- NATIONAL SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS:
- List of Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak (Creative Capital.org)
- A collection of safety nets and preparedness and response guides (NCaper.org)
- FUNDING:
- Rolling deadline – AGMA Relief Fund (For Actors – AGMA members only)
- Twenty Summers: Emergency Arts Fund (EAF) no deadlines adjusted as income is received – Artist’s video is hosted on shared fundraising platform, Twenty Summers distributes proceeds.
- Patreon’s Response to COVID-19 resources page
- Freelancer’s Union Relief Fund
