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  • This page, Appendix C: Fiscal Year 2021 [2019 Coronavirus] Relief Fund for Individual Artists Grant Guidelines, is   offered by
  • Office of the State Auditor

Appendix C: Fiscal Year 2021 [2019 Coronavirus] Relief Fund for Individual Artists Grant Guidelines

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Eligibility

You may apply for Mass Cultural Council [2019 coronavirus, or COVID-19] Relief funding if you are:

1.   An individual artist working in any artistic discipline. Artist here is defined broadly to include, but is not limited to artists such as musicians, theater artists (including those that work on sound, lighting, and costume design), photographers, puppeteers, crafts artists, painters, poets and authors, vocalists, folk and traditional artists, dancers, etc.

OR

2.   An individual teaching artist, humanist, or scientist who promotes education in the arts, humanities, or interpretive sciences to people of any age, who typically works in schools or other educational settings.

AND you meet all six of the following requirements:

  • You are 18 years or older.
  • You are a legal resident of Massachusetts. We define “legal resident” as someone who meets the definition of a “full-year resident” in the Massachusetts tax code. Visit the Mass Department of Revenue web site to learn more.
  • You have reported taxable income related to earnings working as an individual artist and/or as an individual teaching artist, humanist, scientist in your most recent tax return.
  • The income (gross) you reported earning as an individual artist and/or as an individual teaching artist, humanist, scientist in at least ONE tax return filed within the last three years represented more than 25% of your total income from all sources.
  • You can demonstrate at least $1,500 of lost income directly related to COVID-19 that is not eligible to be recouped through Massachusetts unemployment benefits. This could include lost revenue due to:
  • Canceled jobs/gigs, classes, performances, exhibitions, shows, residencies, etc.
  • Organizational closures and/or suspended operations
  • Lost sales, commissions, vendor fees from canceled markets, events, exhibitions, etc. Federal [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security]  Act unemployment benefits do not affect eligibility for this program.
  • You did not receive a COVID-19 Relief Fund for Individuals grant or a [Gary Knisely and Varian Foundation grant] for Berkshire County Theater Professionals Fund grant in FY20.

Applicants may submit one application and may receive no more than one grant during this FY21 grant opportunity.

Date published: June 16, 2022

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