cerfplus Sign Up Information

Dear Emma,

In these difficult times, it''s inspiring to see artists coming up with creative ways to support the arts community. CERF+ is thankful to everyone who has made a donation or hosted a fundraiser to benefit the artists we serve.

To give you a taste of some of the events going on to benefit CERF+, here is a sampling:

Dear Emma,

Craft shows may be canceled, but artists are still making and selling their beautiful creations, and you can help them by buying their work. Today is Giving Tuesday and we ask you to join us in supporting the artists and makers that make our lives so rich and full of beauty.

Here are some of the ways you can support artists today:

Show your support of artists and help us spread the word by using #GivingToArtistsDay in your social media posts. All week, we''ll be sharing creative ways artists are conducting their careers online on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Follow us to stay up-to-date and let us know what you are doing to support artists on Giving Tuesday.

Thank you!

Dear Emma,

The arts community continues to come together like never before to support one another during these challenging times. We wanted to take a moment to share some exciting events that are happening as well as some useful resources and updates regarding federal loans and unemployment.

VIEW THIS EMAIL ONLINE

Dear Emma,

Most states are now set up to receive applications for unemployment from self-employed workers and independent contractors. Please continue to update us on your experience accessing unemployment and loan assistance through the CARES Act so that we can support you in our ongoing advocacy work.

Legal Disclaimer. The information contained in this email, in CERF+ materials and on the CERF+ or affiliated websites is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.

VIEW THIS EMAIL ONLINE

Dear Emma,

As we all work to safeguard our health and the health of our communities, here are some upcoming workshops and webinars to help support your financial and emotional well-being.

Legal Disclaimer. The information contained in this email, in CERF+ materials and on the CERF+ or affiliated websites is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.

VIEW THIS EMAIL ONLINE

Dear Emma,

Congress passed a continuing resolution today that includes granting themselves one more week to negotiate the fiscal year 2021 federal funding package AND the next COVID relief bill.

This bill would include:

You can read the full details of what''s included in the bill here.

Now is the time to tell Congress just how vital these funds are. The Americans for the Arts Action Fund, through their Urge Support for the Arts in COVID-19 Relief Legislation campaign, has a tool that makes it easy to reach out to elected officials and make your voice heard.

Legal Disclaimer. The information contained in this email, in CERF+ materials and on the CERF+ or affiliated websites is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.

Dear Emma,

CERF+ is conducting a national survey of studio based artists to understand the challenges they are facing in light of  the COVID-19 pandemic. The data gathered will help us advocate for artists and inform how we can address immediate and long-term needs.

We need your help distributing this survey as widely as possible. If you are a studio-based artist, please share it with others and complete the survey yourself. Your identity will be kept confidential and it should take no more than five minutes to complete. If you are a business or an organization, please share it with the artists in your community.

Thank you for your help with this important project.

All best,

Cornelia Carey

Executive Director

VIEW THIS EMAIL ONLINE

Dear Emma,

As we all work to balance future uncertainty and new realities, it can be easy to neglect our own well-being. Here are some resources where you can find advice from fellow artists, hear from mental health professionals, and get tools to help you take care of yourself during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Legal Disclaimer. The information contained in this email, in CERF+ materials and on the CERF+ or affiliated websites is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.

Dear Emma,

As details about the CARES Act become available and portions of this federal package begin to roll out, it''s important to know what is accessible to artists and other self-employed workers. While regulations are being drafted and the landscape is changing daily and hourly, here are some key components:

File for Unemployment: The Department of Labor is still drawing up guidelines for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) which will be available to self-employed workers. This assistance will include an extra 13 weeks (39 rather than 26), and an extra $600/wk added to the payments. State unemployment offices are swamped, so you will need to apply online! Assistance can be sent as a mailed cash card, but the best course is to have your bank account information ready and have it direct deposited. Read more about how to apply>>

These loans for small business from the Small Business Administration are available for self-employed individuals, sole proprietors, freelancers, etc. Applications are available online and should take less than two hours to complete. We’re hearing that these funds are on a first come, first served basis, so don’t delay. You can always turn it down if it turns out you don’t need it. These loans are intended to cover business expenses during the COVID crisis. Three days after approval, there is a $10,000 advance that will be considered a grant. The remainder of the loan is a low interest loan.

Payroll Protection Program (PPP) Loans are intended for small businesses to use to maintain payroll and cover other business expenses during the COVID crisis. All or part of the loan will be forgivable if you are able to keep employees on your payroll. These are available to sole proprietors and self-employed workers. It is uncertain exactly how this will work for very small operations. Applications are made through a bank. Banks must be certified SBA lenders-though more banks will be authorized to make these loans. Some bigger banks have dedicated SBA loan officers who may be able to expedite loans. If you have a relationship with your bank, that would be a good place to start. Applications open today for most small businesses, including self-employed, sole proprietors, etc. Applications open on April 10 for independent contractors and certain others.We are hearing that these are also “first come, first serve” although it is possible that additional funds will be appropriated in other bills.

In addition to these provisions through the CARES Act, there may be other ways to decrease your financial burden through requesting a forbearance on mortgage payments, and more. Visit our website to learn about other steps you can take.

Legal Disclaimer. The information contained in this email, in CERF+ materials and on the CERF+ or affiliated websites is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.

Dear Emma,

As you navigate the federal relief made available for artists and other self-employed workers in the CARES Act, we need to hear from you. What''s working as you apply for relief? What isn''t? Your feedback will enable CERF+ to continue to advocate for you and your needs.

Please use this form to tell us what your experience has been so far as you apply for the assistance made available through the CARES Act. You can fill out this form more than once as your situation changes, and please share this form with other artists.

File for Unemployment: The Department of Labor is still drawing up guidelines for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) which will be available to self-employed workers. This assistance will include an extra 13 weeks (39 rather than 26), and an extra $600/wk added to the payments. State unemployment offices are swamped, so you will need to apply online! Assistance can be sent as a mailed cash card, but the best course is to have your bank account information ready and have it direct deposited. Read more about how to apply>>

These loans for small business from the Small Business Administration are available for self-employed individuals, sole proprietors, freelancers, etc. Applications are available online and should take less than two hours to complete. We’re hearing that these funds are on a first come, first served basis, so don’t delay. You can always turn it down if it turns out you don’t need it. These loans are intended to cover business expenses during the COVID crisis. Three days after approval, there is a $10,000 advance that will be considered a grant. The remainder of the loan is a low interest loan.

Payroll Protection Program (PPP) Loans are intended for small businesses to use to maintain payroll and cover other business expenses during the COVID crisis. All or part of the loan will be forgivable if you are able to keep employees on your payroll. These are available to sole proprietors and self-employed workers. It is uncertain exactly how this will work for very small operations. Applications are made through a bank. Banks must be certified SBA lenders-though more banks will be authorized to make these loans. Some bigger banks have dedicated SBA loan officers who may be able to expedite loans. If you have a relationship with your bank, that would be a good place to start. Applications open today for most small businesses, including self-employed, sole proprietors, etc. Applications open on April 10 for independent contractors and certain others.We are hearing that these are also “first come, first serve” although it is possible that additional funds will be appropriated in other bills.

In addition to these provisions through the CARES Act, there may be other ways to decrease your financial burden through requesting a forbearance on mortgage payments, and more. Visit our website to learn about other steps you can take.

Legal Disclaimer. The information contained in this email, in CERF+ materials and on the CERF+ or affiliated websites is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.

VIEW THIS EMAIL ONLINE

Dear Emma,

Here are some upcoming free workshops and discussions to help you find affordable health insurance, take care of your financial health, develop new wellness strategies, and more.

Legal Disclaimer. The information contained in this email, in CERF+ materials and on the CERF+ or affiliated websites is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any content included in this site without seeking legal or other professional advice.

Whether you’ve already communicated with Congress or not, this is another important time to speak up and be heard.

CERF+ has and/or will endorse the following letters to Congress:

We are also beginning to gather data from artists working in craft disciplines and other studio-based artists about their current health and safety, as well as financial loss estimates. If you are an artist, please help us by completing our COVID-19 survey today.

CERF+ has information and resources to help you navigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to make frequent updates to our response page, so please check back often.

CERF+ advocates on behalf of the craft field and studio-based artists and relies on the support of our community to continue our work. Support CERF+ today!

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Lenore Tawney (left), 1957. Photo by Aaron Siskind, Courtesy of the Lenore G. Tawney Foundation. Paul J. Smith (right), 1961

VIEW THIS EMAIL ONLINE

Dear Emma,

I hope this letter finds you safe and well, and that you are finding ways to navigate the difficulties posed by COVID-19. We miss being with you at shows, conferences, open-studios and workshops and are looking forward to the day when we can be together again! In the meantime, I want to brief you on what CERF+ has been doing in response to the COVID-19 outbreak and our plans going forward.

Phase I: Immediate Response (March – May)

CERF+ has both mobilized our own artist safety net and collaborated with other national groups to ensure availability of rapid relief programs for artists.

CERF+ programs and services

CERF+ outreach and advocacy for artists’ access to federal assistance

Phase II: Short-term Recovery (beginning July – September)

35 years as one of the few, full-time artist responders has taught us that recovery after a major disaster is a marathon, and that initial emergency relief funds often disappear too quickly. Shortly, we will be announcing a quick relief fund for artists in craft disciplines facing dire circumstances such a food, health, and housing insecurities.

Phase III: Recovery (Fall 2020)

Too often funds to re-start and rebuild a creative practice are far less available than cash grants for immediate survival. So, in the next few months, CERF+ will also be launching another special grant program to address this unmet need.

Despite the disruption and uncertainty the pandemic has wrought, once again, artists have shown resourcefulness and perseverance. Looking ahead, we are confident that artists WILL emerge stronger through creativity AND the commitment of our community working together. CERF+ is here to accompany you through these stressful times, and I hope you’ll reach out to me and other CERF+ staff through the contact info listed on the Who We Are page of our website. Keep telling us what you need, what your concerns are and we will keep working towards meeting them!

Sincerely yours,

Cornelia Carey

Executive Director