NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 23: Susan Unterberg during the Skowhegan Awards Dinner 2019 at Cipriani 42nd Street on April 23, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)
The Anonymous Was a Woman awards have supported women artists over 40 since 1996, distributing more than $6 million in grants to a population that has historically and systematically been overlooked when it comes to major accolades and support. Now, for the first time ever, the organization is doubling its annual offering with an additional $250,000 of emergency relief grants in response to the ongoing health crisis that has shuttered museums, galleries, and other businesses around the world.
The grants—up to $2,500 apiece—aim to assist artists who are experiencing financial hardship due to lost income or opportunity as a result of COVID-19 and the subsequent economic shock. As with AWAW’s annual grants, the emergency funds, administered in partnership with the New York Foundation for the Arts, are unrestricted and available only to women-identifying visual artists over the age of 40 in the United States.
Resources from the Maryland State Arts Council: COVID-19 Business Relief Programs Announced by Governor Hogan – March 23, 2020
Governor Hogan announced new COVID-19 business relief programs on March 23. These resources are available through the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor.
In addition, the entire state of Maryland has received designation for SBA assistance. Small businesses can apply here for federal funding.
Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund Programs for BusinessesMaryland has authorized $130 million in loan and grant funding for small businesses and manufacturers that have been negatively impacted by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This emergency assistance provides interim relief and proceeds that can be used to pay cash operating expenses including payroll, suppliers, rent, fixed debt payments and other mission critical cash operating costs.If you are a Maryland-based business impacted by the Coronavirus with under 50 full- and part-time employees, or a Maryland manufacturer, check out the programs below to see if you qualify for assistance.
Maryland Small Business COVID-19 Emergency Relief Loan Fund– This $75 million loan fund (for for-profit businesses only) offers no interest or principal payments due for the first 12 months, then converts to a 36-month term loan of principal and interest payments, with an interest rate at 2% per annum. Learn more.
Maryland COVID-19 Emergency Relief Manufacturing Fund – This $5 million incentive program helps Maryland manufacturers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) that is urgently needed by hospitals and health-care workers across the country. More details are expected to be announced by Friday, March 27, 2020.
COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund – Workforce Development and Adult LearningGovernor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Department of Labor have launched the new COVID-19 Layoff Aversion Fund, which is designed to support businesses undergoing economic stresses due to the pandemic by preventing or minimizing the duration of unemployment resulting from layoffs. The award (up to $50,000 per applicant), will be a quick deployable benefit and customizable to the specific needs of your business to minimize the need for layoffs.Labor is accepting grant applications from small businesses for awards from now through 30 days after the State of Emergency ends (subject to funding availability). How can it help me?
Providing funds to cover the cost of purchasing remote access (ex. computers, printers, etc.) equipment to allow employees to work remotely from home versus being laid off;
Providing funds to cover the cost of purchasing software or programs that an employee would need to use from home;
Providing funds to cover the costs of cleaning/sanitation services so that small businesses are able to keep employees at work on site, but only if a frequent deep cleaning to prevent exposure occurred;
Paying for liability insurance for restaurants that convert to delivery while under emergency circumstances;
Providing funds for training or professional development opportunities for employees to avoid layoffs; and
Adopting other creative approaches and strategies to reduce or eliminate the need for layoffs in the small business community.
Examples of how a business may demonstrate the need for layoff aversion funds:
I run a call center where employees usually work in an office setting. To support social distancing, I’d like my employees to work remotely, which will require equipment such as reliable headphones and laptops for each employee. If they do not have this equipment, I will need to layoff my staff.
I could ask employees to use their personal phones and work remotely, but I do not have the funds to support the cell phone packages. If provided funds to reimburse employees for the increased data usage, my business could avoid layoffs.
My employees could work remotely if they had a specific software or computer application, but I cannot afford to purchase. Without this software, I will need to layoff my workforce until we can go back to the office.
I need my 8 employees to continue to work on site, but I am concerned about their potential exposure to COVID-19 and cannot afford frequent deep cleaning to help limit potential exposure. If I had funds to support the deep cleaning, it would allow my workers to continue to work and would foster a safer work environment.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, my employees have more down time than usual. If I were able to offer the opportunity for them to take project management training online during this down time, they will increase their skillsets, making them a valuable asset to our company and less likely a candidate for layoff.
Tinkerlab has maker ideas and visual arts challenges for learners on its website. There are also science projects and other activities, and those interested can sign up for a mailing list with new activities and ideas.
