COVID-19 Updates
The Asheville Area Arts Council continues to closely monitor the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. We will do our best to provide you with the latest news and resources.
Relief Resources
Latest News

COVID job loss: Asheville worse than Greenville, says budget analyst
While Asheville area workers are still reeling from shutdowns and other economic effects of the pandemic, those across the state line are facing a much sunnier scenario, including a full recovery and job gains, Buncombe County budget staff said in a Jan. 19 report detailing employment trends.

Living wage in Buncombe County jumps to more than $17 an hour
The cost to live in Asheville will be significantly higher in 2021, according to new data from Just Economics. Caption: WLOS. Vicki Meath, the executive director of Just Economics, said if you were making the living wage in 2020 you’re now going to have to make almost $2 an hour more to make e…

ANALYSIS: COVID-19’s Impacts on Arts and Culture
This week’s analysis is the product of close collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Argonne National Laboratory. It provides an initial overview of some of these impacts, with a particular focus on the performing arts. It also explores some of the adaptations and resources that are helping arts organizations and artists to survive financially during the pandemic.
COVID Resources
Reliable COVID-19 Updates
- For Buncombe County updates text BCALERT to 888-777 and/or visit bucombecounty.org/covid-19
- For North Carolina updates text COVIDNC to 898-211 and/or visit ncdhhs.gov
Other Relief Funds

Craft Futures Fund
The Craft Futures Fund will support craft communities throughout the United States and their creative responses to COVID-19. These one-time, unrestricted grants of $5,000 will be disbursed to craft-based education projects that seed resilience, foster community, and amplify impact.

CARES Act Guidelines: Grant Program Description
The National Endowment for the Arts announced today its guidelines to swiftly distribute funding to nonprofit arts organizations from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to preserve jobs and help support organizations forced to close operations due to the spread of COVID-19.

Musician Relief Fund – IamAvl
We at IamAvl have always prided ourselves on being a tool for artists to gain further exposure, and play what part we can to help push them to the next level in their careers. Now, with gigs, festivals and events being cancelled, the music making community needs your support more than ever. If you a…

The Actors Fund
We provide free and confidential assistance nationally to everyone who works in performing arts and entertainment—including actors, dancers, musicians, stagehands, playwrights and many more. Whether you work on stage or on camera, behind the scenes or below the line, you can contact The Actors Fund …

CERF+ Responds to Coronavirus (COVID-19) - CERF+
Like many of you, we have been carefully monitoring the spread of COVID-19 and are making adjustments in our daily lives to protect ourselves, our families, and our communities from the virus. Our thoughts are with the artist community, many of whom are dealing with canceled shows, exhibitions, and …

The Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant
The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program is intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation. Each grant is given as one-time assistance for a specific emergency, examples of which are fire, flood, or emergency medical need.

Freelancers Relief Fund
This is a frightening time. As cities and states are shutting down events and nonessential businesses in the attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19,
industries across the U.S. have suffered or ground to a halt. We’ve heard from thousands of members who have lost jobs this month and are
concerned a…
industries across the U.S. have suffered or ground to a halt. We’ve heard from thousands of members who have lost jobs this month and are
concerned a…

Joan Mitchell Foundation Emergency Grants
Disasters are unpredictable, and the impact on an artist’s life and work can be devastating. To help artists get back to work, the Joan Mitchell Foundation provides grants of up to $6,000 to US-based visual artists who have suffered significant physical losses after natural or man-made disasters.

Musicians Foundation
Eligibility To qualify for aid from the Musicians Foundation, you must meet the following conditions: You (or the person for whom you are applying) must be a musician of any genre in a time of acute need, due to personal, medical, dental, or family crisis, natural disaster, or other emergency situat…
Guidance for Arts Professionals & Organizations

COVID-19 Small Business/Nonprofit Initiative - North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center
The North Carolina Pro Bono Resource Center’s (PBRC) COVID-19 Small Business/Nonprofit Initiative (the Initiative) will offer pro bono legal consultations to small businesses and nonprofits with fewer than 25 employees. These consultations will help small businesses and nonprofits with COVID-19 lega…

Cuseum: Coronavirus Resources
As coronavirus continues to spread rapidly and affect museums, cultural organizations, attractions, performing arts centers, universities, and more, it is imperative to stay prepared. To help organizations take measures to reduce the spread of the virus and support their communities, we have compiled a variety of resources to assist in planning, strategy, and adapting to change.

Response to Coronavirus for Performing Arts Organizations
Lawyers for the Creative Arts has received a number of inquiries from performing arts organizations and individual artists related to best practices in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. This list includes various sources dealing with this, or similar, health-related business issues. Reviewing th…

Nonprofit Pandemic Resources
As we continue to learn more about Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and how it’s impacting communities across the country and around the world, the Center is here to support nonprofits with updates and resources to help you take steps to safeguard your employees, operations, and NC communities. If you know of or have a resource to share, please let us know.