DCASE Homepage > COVID-19 Arts Relief & Resources

Be Safe Chicago Industry Guidelines

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, alongside the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), industry leaders, labor leaders, and public officials, have developed industry-specific guidelines for safely operating within Phase IV: Gradually Resume. These guidelines are part of the city’s Be Safe Chicago framework that will be used to guide Chicago’s reopening process amid COVID-19. Aligned with the State of Illinois but tailored to Chicago’s context, these guidelines advise employers and residents of Chicago on how to gradually resume reopening while continuing to prioritize the health of our most vulnerable residents.

Current guidelines for Film & TV Production; Museums; Performance Venues; and Movie Theaters can be found at the Be Safe Chicago Industry Guidelines page under the Arts & Culture tab in multiple languages. Additional information is available in the Chicago Museum Industry Guidebook.

COVID-19 Arts Relief

DCASE is a proud partner and contributor to the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund – providing financial relief to workers and organizations in the creative industries impacted by COVID-19. The fund is a partnership between the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois and the broader philanthropic community. The Arts for Illinois Relief Fund is administered by Arts Alliance Illinois in partnership with 3Arts and Arts Works Fund, long-standing and trusted service organizations and grantmakers.

Individual artists and artisans – including stage and production members and part-time cultural workers – experiencing an urgent need are able to apply for one-time grants of $1,500 distributed by 3Arts. Grants will be awarded through a lottery system and will be disseminated quickly. Additionally, nonprofit arts and cultural organizations of any size will be able to apply for relief through the Arts Work Fund. Based on their demonstrated financial need, organizations will be awarded grants from $6,000 – $30,000.

Fundraising activities are co-chaired by First Lady MK Pritzker and First Lady Amy Eshleman, with support from other civic leaders. Donations to the fund will go directly to artists and arts organizations throughout Illinois. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Individuals, corporations and charitable foundations are encouraged to donate.

COVID-19 Arts Community Resources

Following is a partial list of Arts Community Resources – including a number of arts service organizations providing frequently updated news and resources for artists and arts organizations. Please let us know if you have an additional arts community resource that isn't listed here.

Please refer to the Chicago Department of Public Health's website, chicago.gov/coronavirus, for the latest local updates on the response to COVID-19.

Financial Support – Local

Chicago Artists Relief Fund

Chicago Dancers United – The Dancers’ Fund for Critical Health Need

Chicago Federation of Musicians – Chicago Musicians Emergency Relief Fund

City of Chicago – Employment and Financial Assistance

Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation – Collections Emergency Relief Fund

Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity – Emergency Small Business Grants and Loans

Seasons of Concern Chicago – Emergency Medical Assistance for Chicago’s Theater Community

Financial Support – US

Actors Fund – Emergency Financial Assistance

Adolf & Esther Gottlieb Foundation Grants – Interim Financial Assistance to Qualified Painters, Printmakers and Sculptors

American Guild of Musical Artists – Relief Fund

American Society of Journalists and Authors – Writers Emergency Assistance Fund

Artist Relief

Artists’ Charitable Fund for Medical Expenses

Artists’ Fellowship – Emergency Aid to Professional Visual Artists

Authors League Fund

The Blues Foundation – COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund

Book Industry Charitable Foundation – Assistance to Booksellers and Comic Retailers

Dramatists Guild Foundation – Emergency Grants

Equal Sound – Corona Relief Fund for Musicians

Facebook – Small Business Grants Program

Format – The Photography Fund

Foundation for Contemporary Arts – COVID-19 Relief Fund

Gospel Music Trust Fund

Jazz Foundation of America – Musicians’ Emergency Fund

Kickstarter – COVID-19 Artist Resources

New York Foundation for the Arts – Rauschenberg Emergency Grants

Pinetop Perkins Foundation – Pinetop Assistance League (PAL) for Elder Musicians

PEN America – Writers’ Emergency Fund

Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund

The Recording Academy MusiCares – COVID-19 Relief Fund

The Soze Foundation – Artist + Activist Relief Fund

Sweet Relief – COVID-19 Fund for Musicians and Music Workiers

Twenty Summer – Art Interrupted Emergency Arts Fund

Impact Survey

Americans for the Arts – Survey on the Economic Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Arts and Cultural Sector

Arts Alliance Illinois – COVID-19 Cultural Sector Impact Assessment

Association of Performing Arts Professionals – Coronavirus Impact Survey on the Performing Arts Industry

National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) – NALAC Field Survey: Responding to COVID-19

Artists Resources

3Arts Emergency Resources

AIGI (American Institute of Graphic Arts) – COVID 19 Resources

American Booksellers Association

American Photographic Artists – Resources

Americans for the Arts – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource and Response Center

Arts Administrators of Color

Arts Midwest – COVID-19 Resources

ArtsReady

Billboard Resource Guide

CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund)

Center for Creative Entrepreneurship

Chicago Artist Guide – COVID-19 Resources for Theatre Artists in Chicago

Chicago Musician – Resources for Organizations and Individuals Impacted by Cancellations

Chicago Service Relief – A Directory of Fundraisers for Chicago Bars, Venues, Restaurants and Other Service-based Businesses

Common Field – COVID-19 Resources

COVID-19 & Freelance Artist Resources

Creative Capital – Artist Resources

Dance/USA – Resources Related to Coronavirus

Dramatists Guild – COVID-19 Resources

Freelancers Union – Resources

Lawyers for the Creative Arts – Coronavirus Resources for the Arts Community

League of American Orchestras – Coronavirus Response Page

National Coalition for the Arts' Preparedness and Emergency Response

National Endowment for the Arts – COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations

National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) – COVID-19 Resources

National Performance Network (NPN) – COVID-19 Resources

Poets & Writers – Resources for Writers in the Time of Coronavirus

Rescripted

See Chicago Dance – COVID-19 Arts Resources

Springboard for the Arts – Principles for Ethical Cancellation

Statera Arts – Emergency Response Directory

Sundance Film Festival – COVID-19 Preparedness Practices and Resources for Artists

Theater Communications Group – Coronavirus Preparedness for Theaters

Women Arts

Sharing Your Art from Your Home

Arts Alliance Illinois – Artist Content Platform Submission

Choose Chicago – Experience Chicago Online

Eventbrite – COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources for Event Creators

Experimental Sound Studios – The Quarantine Concerts

Howlround Theatre Commons – Ways of Gathering in the Age of COVID-19

Springboard for the Arts – Principles for Ethical Cancellation

StageIt – Online Concert Venue

Storefront Rebellion – Chicago Theater Productions You Can Stream at Home

Think with Google – A Guide to Hosting Your Events on YouTube

WTTW – Ways to Explore and Experience the World Safely from Home