$1K Checks Ready For Local Artists

Artists in New Haven can now apply for a $1,000 check to help with the economic downturn created by the Covid-19 public health crisis.

This New Haven Creative Sector Relief Fund launches on Thursday, through the efforts of the city arts department and the Arts Council of Greater New Haven.

“This puts New Haven area up with a lot of our much larger cities” for its proactive support of artists, said Arts Council Executive Director Daniel Fitzmaurice.

He spoke during a city-sponsored Zoom press briefing to unveil the effort.

The gift is targeted towards lower-income artists and gig workers. Fitzmaurice said that artists are eligible if they make less than the United Way’s ALICE Threshold (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). This means under $42,000 a year for a single person and more for families.

Arts-related small businesses can also qualify if they make half a million dollars a year or less.

Click here to apply.

Fitzmaurice said that the team plans to process the applications quickly and get gifts out to creatives’ Paypals and digital wallets within two days.

The fund currently has a total of $60,000 to give out, from the combined coffers of the Arts Council and New Haven Festivals, Inc. The Arts Council and the city will continue to fundraise to make that pot larger.

“We understand that $1,000 is very little, but we’re trying our best to assist where we can for right now,” said New Haven Arts and Cultural Affairs Director Adriane Jefferson.

Fitzmaurice said the Arts Council’s side of the funds came from proceeds from the late Cheever Tyler​‘s Artists Next Door book.

“This couldn’t be a better way to honor Cheever,” he said.

The relief fund is part of a coordinated set of efforts called Together New Haven to help small businesses stay afloat while the city attempts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Some partners, like Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, are focused on helping businesses figure out what out of the various federal, state and local grants and loans will work for them. Others are focused on marketing, like social media challenges to buy local.

A local version of Amazon is even in the works through the Town Green District to highlight five to 10 products from retail businesses that are selling or making things in New Haven.

“The goal of the task force is to help the business community survive today and rebound even stronger,” said Mayor Justin Elicker. ​“It’s all about supporting one another and buying local where possible.”

“I know my nephew is going to love his new sweatshirt from A Kidd from New Haven,” New Haven Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli added later.