Artist Relief Tree (ART) Announces Fiscal Sponsorship in Partnership with Charitable Allies

Artist Relief Tree (ART), an online fundraiser supporting artists and craftspeople affected financially by COVID-19, has entered into a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with Charitable Allies, an Indianapolis, IN based charity that provides legal, educational, administrative and consulting services to nonprofits. End Quote

Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV (1888PressRelease) July 19, 2020 - This partnership allows all new donations to be tax deductible.

ART was a “first responder” to this economic crisis and continues to provide emergency funding to artists worldwide. On March 11, 2020 the World Health Organization officially declared COVID-19 a worldwide pandemic. Recognizing that the livelihoods of freelance artists would be massively impacted, ART began their fundraising initiative that same day. It took until March 27th for the US government to pass the CARES Act, which provided additional temporary financial relief.

ART provides US$250 solidarity donations to any self-identified artist around the world. This initiative, and other fundraising efforts that have emerged, allow artists and craftspeople to buy groceries or make a rent payment - meaning many artists can simply survive another day. To date ART has distributed funds to over 1500 artists around the world. Unfortunately, there remain many thousands more hoping for assistance.

All of my gigs from mid-March to the end of May have been cancelled. It's been an incredibly stressful situation as there was no federal aid to self employed workers until the bill was signed into law today. The money I received from ART is going to help me with this month's payment of student loans. Thank you very much for all the work that you are doing! - Alex, French Horn Player and Teacher

“The goal is to provide wide-reaching support for artists of all disciplines.” said co-founder Morgan Brophy. “Our mission is to promote sharing our collective resources to help keep the artistic community alive. Like the tree in our name, we want to bring each root and branch of our community together to support each other. And if we can help artists survive in the short term, then we will surely see their creativity blossom again in the long term.”

Artists are not the only people to be affected by the cancellation of events. Other community job sectors that support the arts are also at stake, having a ripple effect on the economy. The Arts and Economic Prosperity 5 report (Americans for the Arts, 2003-2015) states: “Nationally, the nonprofit arts and culture industry generated $166.3 billion of economic activity during 2015—$63.8 billion in spending by arts and cultural organizations and an additional $102.5 billion in event-related expenditures by their audiences. This activity supported 4.6 million jobs and generated $27.5 billion in revenue to local, state, and federal governments (a yield well beyond their collective $5 billion in arts allocations).”

With US unemployment over 31 million (according to a July 2, 2020 Department of Labor release), artists’ livelihoods remain uncertain and the economic impact is being felt hard among our artists and community alike. According to an Arts for America poll of over 16,000 respondents, as of July 1, 96% percent of organizations have canceled events and 95% of respondents noted major financial concern for their organization due to the COVID shutdown. According to an ongoing report from Americans for the Arts, as of July 1, 2020, the estimated economic impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on the Arts and Cultural Sector amounts to over $8.4 Billion.

Governments around the world have made attempts to provide for freelancers and artists. In the United States however, many artists have not been able to receive unemployment payments because state and federal government entities were ill-prepared for the sheer volume of need. The unemployed - 23 million by the end of April (the highest rate and the largest over-the-month increase since 1948 when this data started to be collected) - have spent hours on the phone with unemployment offices and often run into setbacks. Artists' income is frequently the result of working in multiple states or working under a variety of 1099 and W2 contracts. Many artists and freelancers have fallen through the cracks.

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Thanks to Artists Relief Tree, I will be able to provide food and supplies for my family and myself. I will also be able to start building my emergency fund back up as well. But rest assured, this is not just about me. I will work my hardest to pay it forward for others who have been hit by this virus. My thanks again to the ART Team for everything they have done for us. God Bless You All! - Will, Percussionist and Technician

Since launching, ART has received over 18,000 requests for assistance from artists all over the world, representing opera, theater, music, dance, the visual arts, literature, and more. Donations are accepted at www.artistrelieftree.com and are tax-deductible.

Artist Relief Tree is a fiscal sponsee of Charitable Allies, Inc., an Indiana nonprofit corporation and recognized public charity under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3). Donations to Charitable Allies, Inc. for Artist Relief Tree are tax-deductible.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Website: www.artistrelieftree.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/artistrelieftree

Email: pr ( @ ) artistrelieftree dot com

About Artist Relief Tree:
The founding ART team includes artists and administrators Morgan Brophy (Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts), Marco Cammarota (Voice-over Actor), Tehvon Fowler-Chapman (Vocal Arts DC), Andrew Crooks (Lawrence University), Thomas Morris (OperaSpace) and Rachel Stanton (Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts). ART has since expanded it’s leadership team to include: Jeremiah Brophy (event production), Colin Michael Brush (Washington National Opera), Elinor Henry (Google), Lisa Husseini (iCadenza), Cadie Jordan (graphic designer, opera singer), John Kaneklides (The Audit Library), Susan Stone Li (opera producer), Tiffany Soricelli (Virtuoso Advising for Artists) and Daniel Welch (Welch Media). The entire team at ART is composed of 22 volunteers across 4 continents working to support artists worldwide.

How Artist Relief Tree determines who will receive funds:
In keeping with ART’s values of transparency and accessibility, applicants complete a brief form describing how COVID-19 cancellations have affected their income, a demonstration of their artistry (via a resume, website, photos, etc), as well as contact and payment information.

Each application is reviewed by a member of the ART team to confirm that the applicant is a practicing artist. A separate team within ART ensures thorough and systematic disbursement of funds.

Artist Relief Tree - Manifesto:
We believe that the arts help make life worth living. And helps us live better, more thoughtful, compassionate lives.

One of the most surefire ways to assess the importance or value of something is to remove it from your life. At the moment, our opera houses, theaters, Broadway, university performing arts programs, etc. are all shut down. We cannot go to hear our favorite singers, we cannot be moved by our favorite performers, we cannot be entertained, and we cannot enjoy our usual sense of community that the arts creates for us.

We believe that NOW is the time to support artists and the arts... the world is going to really need us in the coming months.

Dark theaters and cancelled performances are having a huge impact on the lives of many artists and performers. Force majeure contract clauses mean that freelance artists may not be paid, even for things that they have been preparing or working on for months. Furthermore, artists thrive on community and making art with one another, and for a live audience. They cannot do this right now.

What are we going to do about it?
Right now, artists need everyone to help. Whether you’re giving money or you’re sharing a story about how art has influenced your life. ART aims to be the bridge which ensures that AS MANY ARTISTS AS POSSIBLE receive help in these trying times. We are not trying to offer any single artist complete compensation for lost earnings. We offer a one-off, US$250 “solidarity donation” for artists who apply (and meet very basic criteria).

So far, we’ve helped over 1,500 artists and production personnel. We have 3500+ active applications for funding and an additional 15,000+ more on the waitlist. This pandemic isn’t going to just “go away” anytime soon and until we are able to once again attend our beloved museums, festivals, and our childrens’ recitals, we need your continued support. Make a donation today. Consider a monthly recurring contribution. Above all else, please support art wherever you can and spread the word.

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