Grit Fund Emergency Recovery Grants are now closed. Please check back in November for information about Grit Fund 2022.  

With the partnership and support of the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Grit Fund is offering $500 Emergency Recovery Grants (ERG) to Baltimore City and Baltimore County based artists whose income and opportunities have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

The ERG Fund totals $60,000 and will provide approximately 120 grants to artists. These unrestricted $500 grants may be used for immediate needs such as housing, utilities, food, childcare, healthcare, etc.

We request that applicants self-select whether they are in significant financial stress during this time. If your work has not been significantly impacted in the immediate moment, please do not apply.

Timeline and Notification Process

  • Application opens: Sept 14th, 2021
  • Application closed October 12th, 2021 at midnight EST
  • Grant notification: Week of October 19th, 2021

If there are still funds after this first grant cycle, we will announce a second round.

If you are unable to complete the application online, you can download and fill out the Grit Fund Emergency Recovery Grant – Plain Text Document.

Email your completed responses and work sample to: gritfund@thepealecenter.org, subject line “ERG Application Submission”.

Eligibility

Grit Fund Emergency Recovery Grant eligibility requirements. To be eligible, you must be able to say yes to ALL the below statements:

  • I am experiencing financial emergencies due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • I am a self-identified artist residing in Baltimore City or  Baltimore County.
  • I am a practicing artist/arts-based cultural organizer able to demonstrate a sustained commitment to my practice, career, and a public audience.
  • I am 21 years of age or older.
  • I can provide a W9 and Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). This information will not be asked for until after the grant has been awarded.

There are many reasons you might apply for the Grit Fund Emergency Recover Grant. Below are some of the things that the funds can cover: 

  • Financial losses due to canceled events. This includes:
    • Performances, exhibitions, commissions, and screenings;
    • Readings, panels, speaking and presenting opportunities
  • Unrecoverable travel expenses related to creative work. This includes:
    • Nonrefundable, prepaid transportation or lodging. This has to be for conferences or convenings you were planning to go to;
    • Artist Residencies;
    • Touring costs
  • Lost income for teaching artists whose classes were canceled
  • Lost supplemental income because the industry in which you work has been shut down due to the COVID-19 crisis (ex. Service industry, retail, etc.)
  • Loss of access to work due to childcare and school closures.
  • The cost of transitioning to virtual or online platforms (eg. buying equipment or software that would allow teaching artists to provide lessons online).

FAQs

Will Grit Fund will continue to provide project funding?

Grit Fund is first and foremost a grant for artist-led projects. Because of the impact of COVID-19 on artists’ ability to survive and sustain their life’s work, we are prioritizing support for the person over the project. We plan to return to our regular project funding cycle in winter 2021.

How does Grit Fund define “artists” and “cultural organizer”?

Our definition of an artist considers many disciplines, mediums, formats, educational backgrounds, and life experience. Those who self-identify as artists; and those who identify their creative practice as art-based, are included in our definition.

Application & Selection

Before I apply, am I guaranteed to receive funds?

Unfortunately, due to limited funds and volume of applications, we cannot guarantee that every applicant will receive funding.

Am I eligible if I have already received funding from Grit Fund in the past?

Yes, you are eligible. Past Grit Fund applications and collaborators are eligible to apply.

How do I submit my application? And who should I contact if I have technical issues?

The Emergency Recovery Grant application is available on our website. If you are experiencing technical difficulties with our application process, please contact gritfund@thepealecenter.org.

I am not primarily paid for my artistic work, but have lost income through other employment or contract work. Can I still apply?

Yes; these funds are meant to support artists holistically and recognize that those most affected by our present crisis are often un- or underpaid for their artistic work.

What can I use the funds for?

An Emergency Recovery Grant may be used for daily needs including, but not limited to: housing, utilities, groceries, child care, medical expenses, and lost wages/fess.

What artistic documentation is required for the application?

You only need to share one form of documentation of your art practice. There are multiple ways you can do that:

In your application, you can share links to your website or artistically relevant social media.

OR

After you submit your application, you will be promoted to upload any files which can include a CV/Resume or images of your work.

How will my private information be used?

All information submitted in this application is private and will not be shared externally. Information regarding general finances and demographic information helps us understand more of what artists are experiencing during this time, and will be used to help inform equitable, and accountable funding practices.

Am I eligible if I have already received funds from another relief effort?

Yes, you are eligible. We do not disqualify anyone based on other sources of relief.

Funding & Disbursement

How much funding is available?

Grit Fund will disperse $60,000 in emergency funding.

How will you decide who will get grants?

Grit Fund prioritizes equity and will utilize the above requirements and application information provided to help guide the process. We are not conducting a jury process for emergency funding.

If I am selected, how soon will funding be disbursed? What are my options for payment?

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting October 12th, 2021. We will notify awardees starting October 19th, 2021. If awarded the grant, we will send you a W9 form to fill out and send back to us. You can let us know if you prefer to be paid electronically or with a check in the mail.  

Is this long-term support? How long will Grit Fund grant emergency funds?

The Grit Fund Emergency Relief Grant is designed to provide rapid, short-term financial support, and will be available until the fund is depleted. Due to the magnitude of this crisis, we anticipate significantly more requests for funding than there are funds to distribute.

Reporting

Do I need to produce a project with these funds?

No. Projects and project reports are not required, however, we encourage grantees to report their stories of support and survival – the persistence of art in the midst of emergency, and the ways in which we respond to what feels insurmountable.

Resources

For a list of COVID-19 funding and professional development resources for artists and creative entrepreneurs click here.