Arts Council of Mendocino County (COVID-19) Resources and Response Center

The coronavirus (COVID-19) has devastated communities with advanced community spread. In an effort to prevent an overwhelm of healthcare capacity, to keep as many people as healthy as possible, and to minimize long-term economic impact, in-person local events, performances, conferences, meetings, and fundraisers are postponed or cancelled for now. Our online calendar has a new category for virtual events. We have compiled a list of resources for artists and arts organizations seeking support below, and we will update this page as we learn of new opportunities, so please check back often.

It is unclear what the long term economic impact will be. As of this writing, it would be impossible to say with any clarity when life might return to normal. If we knew, we could plan and schedule exhibits, festivals, fairs, tours, workshops, tours, concerts, events... Unlike recent crises, this global pandemic is sparing no region of our inter-connected planet. We are all affected by this pandemic. The losses we have experienced to date as individuals, businesses, and organizations may never be recovered. The impact is staggeringly vast and we must be clear-eyed about how this pandemic is a unique and novel experience with impacts that go far beyond economic. Whether we consider the economic devastation, or other measures -- emotional, physical, etc. -- the vulnerable among us are hit especially hard. Although we are all experiencing this pandemic, we may be impacted in different ways and to wildly different degrees. Please support each other. Find ways to keep your creative practice alive, safely. Keep making connections with other artists, at a safe distance. Though we may not yet know when we will recover, eventually we will begin to form a vision of how we will recover.

It is likely that recovery will be long-term, and multi-phase. The current phase is, in part, one of assessment (although assessment itself will be on-going). You will find survey links below -- please take the surveys that are relevant to you as they will help funders and others know how best to help.

Soon, I hope, it will be possible to turn the power of our imaginative attention away from our losses, and begin to consider what we will create together. When it is available, we hope to deploy grant funding to get people back to work. If you have ideas, please reach out to us. Keep talking to each other. If we learned anything in the Redwood Complex Fire, it was that the faster a good idea spreads, the more likely it is to attract support.

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Reopening Update June 12, 2020:

On June 5, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued guidance for new Pandemic Stage 3 allowable activities starting June 12, 2020, for counties with approved attestations and variance.
In response to these recent State changes, and due to the stable state of the Pandemic in Mendocino County, Health Officer Dr. Noemi Doohan issued a new Shelter-In-Place (SIP) Order, Thursday, June 11, 2020, and effective June 12, 2020 at 3:00 p.m., allowing Mendocino County to move into Stage 3 of reopening.
The major changes will include:

Fitness Facilities
Breweries, Craft Distilleries, Bars, and Winery Tasting Rooms
Lodging - Opening to Tourism
Campgrounds, RV Parks, and Outdoor Recreation
Family Entertainment ie. Movie Theaters
Museums, galleries, zoos and aquariums

To assist in your preparation, listed below are guidelines and county health and safety forms for businesses.

You will need to self certify your business with the county prior to opening. Even if you have been open as an essential business, you MUST re-certify: https://www.mendocinocountybusiness.org/

View New Order here: https://www.mendocinocounty.org/home/showdocument?id=36100&fbclid=IwAR2y5eP0AOz3tmWjw96yOuiptYuASeH6eCcnik3Bw9oTP2pcfNe3sXm4ooo

State Guidelines for Museums, Galleries, Zoos, and Aquariums:https://covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-zoos-museums.pdf

County of Mendocino Form:https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mil48wr94pfwr6u/AAApdLRtlSjiE-ZDbuQ_FT4Da/ZOOS-GALLERIES-MUSEUMS_COVID19%20Business%20Specific%20Health.docx?dl=0

California Arts Council Reopening Information and Resources: http://arts.ca.gov/resources/COVID-19.php

The Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide (PDF)

ARTS-SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND RESPONSE

ArtistWorks for Libraries Free online Music Classes

Free world-class instruction through self-paced video lessons taught by highly accomplished and Grammy Award–winning music and art professionals.

Americans for the Arts Resource and Response Page

Freelance Artist Resources

California Arts Council
http://www.arts.ca.gov/resources/COVID-19.php

California Lawyers for the Arts
https://www.calawyersforthearts.org/NewsResources

WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation)
https://www.westaf.org/covid-19-resources-information/

American Alliance of Museums
Information about Economic Relief:
https://t.congressweb.com/w/?GRPQLZIHGN

Performing Arts Reopening Guide

Emergency Resources for Artists (compiled by the Center for Cultural Innovation) https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xv238DlW_9HWhJTHr561r8fPaD4BSzOZraDOm2ESyeA/edit#heading=h.tro2rlkgj00l

Oil Painters of America Covid Resources

GRANTS

Apply now for the Business Innovation & Resiliency Grants: https://www.westcenter.org/grants

for Mendocino County micro-businesses who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and need funds to reboot their businesses.

CERF+ Announces Launch of COVID-19 Relief Grant Program for Artists:

https://cerfplus.org/cerf-covid-19-relief-grant/?org=808&lvl=100&ite=2242&lea=2183689&ctr=0&par=1&trk=

financial assistance to artists working in craft disciplines who are facing dire circumstances from the COVID-19 crisis.

Community Foundation of Mendocino County ANGEL FUND for individuals experiencing hardship
https://www.communityfound.org/grants-scholarships/grants/the-angel-fund/

Community Foundation of Mendocino County Zoom Subscription Grant Application

Community Foundation of Mendocino County SAVE THE DAY Fund for nonprofits experiencing unforeseen operational costs
https://www.communityfound.org/grants-scholarships/save-the-day-grant-program/

HOW TO APPLY FOR CARES ACT FUNDS (assistance for individuals & small nonprofits): https://independentsector.org/resource/caresact/#1585589103375-1ce64dd6-3241

Artist Relief Fund

Community Foundation of Mendocino County COVID-19 Resources for Nonprofits

California Humanities Grants

California Arts Council CARES Humanities Grant

WESTAF Grant Relief for ORGANIZATIONS (CLOSED)

SURVEYS

Please take a moment to complete any relevant surveys. Your responses help us to assess the impact of this pandemic on individuals, organizations, and businesses:

Community Foundation of Mendocino County's Covid-19 impact on Non-profits SURVEY (deadline May 20th)

County of Mendocino Economic Disaster Survey for Businesses

Flynn Creek Circus Projected Audience Confidence Survey

Mendocino Film Festival Survey (deadline May 22)

Americans for the Arts COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers

Americans for the Arts Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Arts and Cultural Organizations

ARTS EDUCATION AT HOME

Sonoma Valley Museum of Art
Arts @ Home Resources for Students

SPACE School for Performing Arts Free Zoom Classes

Google Arts and Culture Google's partnership with various art institutions worldwide to offer virtual visitors online access to world-renowned art collections.

Mendocino Dance Project at-home Youth dance lessons:
https://vimeo.com/399800372
https://vimeo.com/402235416
https://vimeo.com/404897979
https://vimeo.com/410324980
https://vimeo.com/418077182

Blake More online poetry lessons
1) letter to covid: https://www.bmoreyou.net/2020/04/06/viral-poetry/

2) lesson looking at corona doldrums: https://www.bmoreyou.net/2020/04/28/bored-boring-a-poetry-lesson-for-the-corona-doldrums/

3) life after covid: https://www.bmoreyou.net/2020/05/14/life-after-integrating-the-new-you/

Oakland Museum of California
Arts at home resources for Students