OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES – CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE #10

Dear Colleagues,

“We’ll be OK.” I know that sometimes we just want someone to tell us that. All of us at the Department of Cultural Affairs are here to let you know that we will work together with you tirelessly to get back to “better than OK.”

This update highlights some of the most meaningful opportunities and valuable resources that we have found so far to help us with this work. Staff has complied the list below of actionable items for nonprofit arts institutions, cultural workers and artists.   

FIRST, A REMINDER: CULTURAL ACTIVITIES ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL THE EMERGENCY ORDERS ARE LIFTED.

As we enter the third week of closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to reiterate that the Emergency Orders issued by Mayor Carlos Gimenez, closing all cultural facilities and activities, remain in effect until lifted. Stay informed here: http://www.miamidade.gov/coronavirus.

FEDERAL FUNDING

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
The NEA will distribute $75 million in funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to nonprofit arts organizations across the country. Some funding will be distributed directly through the NEA and the balance through the state arts agencies, including the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. In a departure from the NEA’s requirement of supporting project-based funding, the legislation allows funds to be used for general operating expenses. We will monitor this and let you know when funds are available. Details also will be announced here: arts.gov. 

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)
As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the NEH will receive $75 million to support at-risk humanities positions and projects at museums, libraries and archives, historic sites, colleges and universities and cultural nonprofits. Details will be announced here: neh.gov.

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act makes $50 million available to IMLS to invest in library and museum projects, with a focus on digital inclusion and technical capacity building. Details will be announced here: imls.gov.

Independent Sector: How to Apply for Nonprofit Relief Funds
The Independent Sector has developed an easy-to-use tool to help individuals and nonprofits understand the CARES Act eligibility criteria, timelines, and application information. It is important to emphasize that these resources are in addition to the NEA/NEH/IMLS allocations. Available here:
independentsector.org/resource/caresact.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Webinar: How Nonprofit Organizations Can Benefit from the CARES Act
On March 30th, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosted a 30-minute briefing on the benefits and resources available to nonprofit organizations through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

• The webinar can be viewed at here. 
• The slides from the presentation are available here. 
• The Emergency Loan Guide can be accessed here.

LOCAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS

The Community Recovery Fund for Nonprofit Organizations – Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The Miami Foundation established The Community Recovery Fund providing critical help to Miami-Dade nonprofits, including arts, culture and humanities organizations. The Miami Foundation has seeded the Fund with a $300,000 contribution. The Knight Foundation has added $250,000 to the Fund. For more information, visit miamifoundation.org/covid19response.

The Miami Pandemic Response Fund
United Way of Miami-Dade and the Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald, joined by a collaboration of funders, have activated Operation Helping Hands and the Miami Pandemic Response Fund to provide seed funding of $500,000 to aid families, small businesses and nonprofit organizations through a network of nonprofit partners. Details available here: www.unitedwaymiami.org/covid19.

John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
The Knight Foundation is contributing a total of $700,000 to assist nonprofit organizations: $450,000 to The United Way Miami Pandemic Response Fund and $250,000 to support The Miami Foundation Community Recovery Fund.

The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation / Related Philanthropic Foundation
The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation has contributed $200,000 to The Miami Foundation Community Recovery Fund to help support arts and cultural organizations and the Related Philanthropic Foundation has donated $100,000 to The United Way Miami Pandemic Response Fund.

FOR ARTISTS

Oolite Arts Launches $100,000 Relief Fund for COVID-19 for Miami-based Artists
The Oolite Arts Relief Fund for COVID-19 offers up to $500 to cover lost income. Thanks to the Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation, Oolite Arts’ own increased commitment and individual donors, more than $100,000 is available to artists through the fund. Apply here: oolitearts.org/relieffund.

Some Other Local Resources
A number of other Miami organizations are offering contacts for resources available to help artists and organizations that serve artists. Here a few:

• Fountainhead Residency: https://www.fountainheadresidency.com/artists-resources?mc_cid=5988a8c036&mc_eid=558f08787b&mc_cid=f3fcbbd3b7&mc_eid=558f08787b
• Locust Projects: http://www.locustprojects.org/for-artists/submissions/covid-19-resources-for-artists.html
• South Florida Theatre League: https://southfloridatheatre.org/coronavirus-updates/

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS

Financial Impact Survey
As announced last week, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs has launched a two-part tool kit: the COVID-19 Financial Impact Tracker (CO-FIT) and the COVID-19 Survey of Impact on Miami-Dade County’s Cultural Community (CO-SIC). The financial impact information collected through your organization’s CO-FIT will be used to answer the Survey that we plan to issue on a monthly basis. The CO-SIC survey for the month of March will be issued next week.

Grant Deadline Extensions
The Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs continues to work with grantees by extending deadlines as needed. Please contact your Grants Program Administrator if you have any questions or concerns about current or upcoming grants funding: https://www.miamidadearts.org/about/staff-councils.

We believe in the resiliency of our inspiring artists and outstanding cultural workers, given our track record of overcoming hurricanes, recessions and all variety of individualized crises. Staff remains available to help. I want you to know that we are in it with you until we all get back to far better than OK!

Stay Safer at Home and Healthy!

Michael

Michael Spring
Senior Advisor to Miami-Dade County Office of the Mayor and
Director, Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs

The most reliable way to contact us continues to be through email.  You can find a staff directory at https://www.miamidadearts.org/about/staff-councils.
Please check the County’s web site for more COVID-19 information and for regular updates: miamidade.gov/coronavirus.

To view a comprehensive list of all the previous updates on COVID-19 click here.