Post-Hurricane Sandy Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations [updated]
[update: original post is below. i just got a new, more organized list of resources for artists, residents and businesses in Lower Manhattan from LMCC, where I work, which as you may know has been seriously impacted by hurricane damage.]
ARTISTS
Emergency Resources for Artists:
Artists, please note: if any of your work or live/work space has been damaged, take pictures and keep receipts of whatever you spend during this time.
Self-employed people are eligible for ‘disaster unemployment insurance’ in areas where a federal declaration of disaster has been declared. About.com explains more:http://jobsearch.about.com/od/
LMCC’s Emergency Grants List:
http://www.lmcc.net/uploads/
NYFA’s Emergency Grants List:
http://www.nyfa.org/source/
Joan Mitchell Foundation: sent out this message after the Hurricane:
“If you are – or know of – a visual artist who has been affected by the hurricane please contact us. The Foundation has funding allocated specifically for emergency assistance to painters and sculptors affected by natural disasters… We know that communication for many is very limited now, but our staff can be reached by email at: info@joanmitchellfoundation.
Small Business Disaster Relief Loans:
Federal: Small Business Administration
(http://www.sba.gov/category/
City: Department of Small Business Services has set up a Sandy recovery website(http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/
Links to salvage / conservation / recovery information:
Conservation OnLine: http://cool.conservation-us.
Studio Protector: http://www.studioprotector.
American Institute for Conservation: http://www.conservation-us.
National Center for Preservation Technology and Training:
http://ncptt.nps.gov/wet-
Heritage Preservation: http://www.
Craft Emergency Relief Fund: http://craftemergency.org/
Arts Ready: https://www.artsready.org/
National Document Conservation Center: http://www.nedcc.org/disaster/
MoMA consortium on conserving works released this document on emergency handling of artwork damaged by flooding.
Other:
Christie’s: Christie’s is arranging space for Downtown artists to use their laptops and charge their phones, and may be able to assist galleries with storage space for their art. Those interested, please call (212) 468-7177.
New York City Economic Development Corporation: For any business temporarily displaced, NYCEDC may have short-term “swing” office or storage space: information atwww.nyc.gov/nycbusiness.
New York City Arts Coalition offers helpful information about FEMA: Federal disaster resources will be dependent on your (or your arts group/business) being registered at FEMA. Go to www.disasterassistance.gov.
NOTE: Performing Arts groups:
The federal legislation that controls eligibility had some limitations after 9/11, which the Chair of NYSCA, Richard Schwartz, was able to work with the Pataki administration to have lifted. This means that Performing Arts groups may be told they are ineligible. Please let us know if this happens to you.
NOTE: Individuals:
You may want to also go to register at NYC Communities for Change
http://salsa.wiredforchange.
Law Office of Sergio Munoz Sarmiento: Phone consultations free of charge to address questions pertaining to rights and possible compensation for damaged artwork or studios as a result of Hurricane Sandy. For more information: http://artlawoffice.com/2012/
RESIDENTS
As Lower Manhattan grappled with the devastation brought on by Hurricane Sandy, many low-income residents of the Lower East Side and Chinatown, particularly older or disabled individuals, were stuck in their homes with little to no access to food and water. A number of community partners are working with local residents to help them recover from the storm and damages incurred. Please visit their websites or contact their offices to find out how you can volunteer or how you can help directly support their efforts.
Two Bridges Neighborhood Council:
http://www.twobridges.org/
Emailing them at info@twobridges.org may be the easiest way to reach them for the time being.
CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities:
http://caaav.org/
Good Old Lower East Side:
http://www.goles.org/
The Jewish Community Project is also organizing some volunteer efforts in Lower Manhattan. Email info@jcpdowntown.org to help or to request assistance.
The Lower East Side Recovers is a site coordinating needs, gives, and volunteer opportunities:https://lowereastside.
BUSINESSES
Many of the storefront businesses along the East River in the old Seaport and in the Financial District were severely damaged in the storm, including many small and local businesses and restaurants. Their path to recovery is just beginning and they too will likely require assistance–skilled or unskilled expertise. Consider volunteering to assist these businesses as they work to clean up and re-open.
NYC Service is coordinating some volunteer efforts: http://www.nyc.gov/html/
New York City’s Public Advocate is also coordinating volunteer efforts:http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov
Make a donation to The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. One hundred percent of donations will be dispersed directly to relief efforts and organizations. Donations can be made online at www.nyc.gov/fund and checks can also be made out to the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City with Hurricane Sandy in the memo line and sent to: Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, 253 Broadway, 8th Floor, NYC, NY 10007. For any further information please call 212-788-7794.
Finally, once these restaurants and store-front shops are up and running again, they will need your business more than ever. Later this month or as the holiday season ramps up, create an excuse to come down to Lower Manhattan to shop, dine, or visit the cultural institutions across this neighborhood. Discover local businesses and help support the recovery and ongoing redevelopment of this dynamic and historic district.
[original post]
So NYFA has some good resource listings here and COAHSI (Staten Island) has a good list here.
And I got this forwarded from Norma Munn of NYC Arts Coalition. It is a bit unwieldy but there’s good info an suggestions.
—–
After 9/11, the NYC Arts Coalition gathered data for the area impacted and organized a coordinated way of looking at the resources available to both arts groups and artists. There were some hard learned lessons, one of which is that there is almost too much information at first and no way to figure out what is worth one’s time and effort.
This memo is an effort to provide some structure to the options and choices people face at this time. It is by no means complete, and I’m sure that some will find options I have not seen over the past two days. Please circulate to anyone, including small galleries, self-employed artists (or anyone self employed) for whom you feel the information is valuable.
First, self-employed people are eligible for unemployment insurance in areas where are federal declaration of a disaster has been declared. If in any doubt, apply. Second, federal disaster resources will be dependent on your (or your arts group/business) being registered at FEMA. Go to www.disasterassistance.gov This includes money, so do not neglect.
NOTE: for performing arts groups, if you register and are later told you are not eligible, let me know ASAP. The federal legislation that controls eligibility had some limitations after 9/11, which the Chair of NYSCA, Richard Schwartz, was able to work with the Pataki administration to have lifted. I’m sure it can be done for this disaster if needed.
NOTE: for individuals, you may want to also go to register at
http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6245/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?signup_page_KEY=6487
This is the site of NYC Communities for Change and they are assisting with tracking and follow up on FEMA, which might be helpful in speeding up the process. Consider this a back up, just in case. They have also offered to help with the process if you need it.
Third, take pictures and keep records of what you spend on anything.
Fourth, while a complete assessment of the losses in the community will be necessary, it will be most useful if done comprehensively citywide and I am hopeful that DCA will be able to undertake this for everyone once they are completely functioning in their temporary space.
The rest of this memo is divided into a section for arts groups and a section for individuals, although there are some overlaps. I will also continue to try to sort out the range of resources and provide a follow up email with additional information.
Organizations: (There is no information as yet on emergency grants. Will continue to check.)
ArtsReady.org — list of resources, visual arts focused, but worth a quick look
https://www.artsready.org/page/useful_links
Loans:
Federal: Small Business Administration; (DisasterLoanSBA.gov) Loans up to $2 million/ 3% interest rates for non-profits; 4% for commercial businesses. (My memory from 9/11 is that you must have registered with FEMA.)
City: The city’s Department of Small Business Services, which just set up a Sandy recovery website, has $5 million available to loan to small businesses. Amounts per business are capped at $10,000. For more information, call 311 and ask for NYC Business Solutions, or send in a contact request online. To get a loan, you can also locate one of the NYC Business Solutions Centers listed here:
400 E. Fordham Rd., 7th floor, Bronx, N.Y., 10458. Phone: 718-960-7910
9 Bond St., 5th floor, Brooklyn, N.Y., 11201. Phone: 347-296-8021
79 John St., New York, N.Y., 10038. Phone: 212-618-8914
168-25 Jamaica Ave., 2nd floor, Jamaica, N.Y., 11432. Phone: 718-577-2148
120 Stuyvesant Place, 3rd floor, Staten Island, N.Y., 10301. Phone: 718-285-8400
215 W. 125th St., 6th floor, New York, N.Y., 10027. Phone: 917-493-7243
560 W. 181st St., 2nd floor, New York, N.Y., 10033. Phone: 212-928-3400
NOTE: This does not mention non-profits. I could not get a person on the phone, but will be following up to ascertain that it does. If not, please assume that it will shortly.
Dance: Dance/NYC Help them tell your story and help you by writing Lacey Althouse at lalthouse@dancenyc.org. Join the conversation on Twitter @DanceNYC #sandydance.
Theatre: ART/NY www.art-newyork.org They are collecting information re immediate losses, and expect to provide further assistance so stay in touch with them.
Salvage guides and/or information for visual arts, but anyone with damaged props, costumes might find help:
AIC: www.conservation-us.org/disaster
NCPTT, Wet Recovery resources: http://ncptt.nps.gov/wet-recovery/
Heritage Preservation: http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TASKFER.HTM
Galleries:
Sara Friedlander, Associate Vice President, Head of First Open at Christie’s in New York, is arranging space at Christie’s for artists to use their laptops and charge their phones, and may be able to assist galleries with storage space for their art. Those interested, please call (212) 468-7177.
Individuals:
Space needs for shows: check www.NYCPASpaces.org
Emergency Financial assistance: The Actors Fund (NOT limited to actors) Call: 917-281-5936 or Twitter @TheActorsFund or private message via Facebook
(wwwfacebook.com/TheActorsFund). Communications are confidential. Also, free Health Clinic; call 212-489-1039 to check on hours and eligibility for clinic.
CERF+ a range of resources:
http://craftemergency.org (NOT limited to crafts.) 802-229- 2306
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