Coronavirus-Relief Grants Available For Worcester Artists

WORCESTER, MA — Like many workers, local artists are getting hit hard by the economic downturn caused by coronavirus. To help them get through the crisis, the Worcester Cultural Coalition has set up a grant program to provide some relief.

The arts organization, a partnership between the city and local arts organizations, will give $500 grants to artists who have been hurt by the crisis. Applications are being accepted now and will run through April 8.

"In Worcester and across the world, workers in the arts and cultural sector already functioning on thin margins have reported increasing pressure," Worcester Cultural Coalition Executive Director Erin Williams said in a statement.

Williams said that efforts to curb coronavirus have meant that artists no longer have access to venues to perform, create work, or teach classes. Just this week, Gov. Charlie Baker extended a stay-at-home advisory into early May. Restaurants, schools, theaters, and music venues are all closed or operating in a limited capacity until then.

Artists who may qualify for the relief grants include anyone who's had a performance or class cancelled. There's a limit of one grant per artists, and priority will go to lower-income people, the organization said.