Sadly the arts and entertainment industries have been some of the hardest hit during the pandemic. People in the professions now have access to a little help in Colorado, though...
According to a press release:
The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) today announced it is accepting applications for the Colorado Arts Relief Fund for Individuals and the Colorado Arts Relief Fund for Business and Organizations. The two funds are made possible by a General Assembly funding initiative passed during the Colorado Legislature’s December special session. Online applications will be accepted through 4:00 PM MT on January 8, 2021 on the grant portal.
The COVID-19 Relief Program for Arts, Cultural and Entertainment Artists, Crew Members and Organizations (Colorado Arts Relief program) is a funding initiative passed by the State of Colorado Legislature during the First Extraordinary Session of the 72nd General Assembly from the Small Business Relief Program created in Section 4-48.5-316, enacted by Senate Bill 20B-001. This initiative directs up to $7.5 million for relief payments to eligible artists, crew members and organizations. Funding through this bill will be distributed through two separate grant applications: 1) Colorado Arts Relief—Business and Organization and, 2) Colorado Arts Relief—Individuals. The programs are administered by Colorado Creative Industries in partnership with Redline.
The Colorado Arts Relief Fund for individuals will provide grants up to $2,500 designed to assist arts, culture, and entertainment artists and crewmembers who are experiencing income loss due to government-mandated closures and have been unable to generate meaningful income to replace income lost through the cancellation of events, classes, performances, and other related work. View the guidelines and application here.
The Colorado Arts Relief Fund for businesses and organizations will provide general operating support grants to arts, culture, and entertainment organizations who operate under a business model in which ticket sales and/or physical foot traffic direct a significant portion of total annual revenue that has been financially affected by venue closures due to the pandemic. View the guidelines and application here.