A periodic round-up for artists of news related to the COVID-19 crisis.
“In Need Of Love Today: A Multitrack Extravaganza,” created by Frank Padellaro and Luke Jaeger (Film & Video Finalist ’07) to promote the Northampton Arts Council’s COVID-19 Artist Relief Fund.
Reopening Plan On Monday, May 18, 2002, Gov. Charlie Baker announced the four phase plan for reopening the Commonwealth amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Read the full plan. WBUR’s The ARTery wrote about what the plan would mean for Massachusetts arts and culture organizations.
Town Hall Mass Cultural Council, along with the Worcester Cultural Coalition, will host a Town Hall Forum with Congressman Jim McGovern, one of the strongest arts champions in Washington, D.C., on May 20, 2020, 12 PM ET. The Congressman will discuss the economic impact of COVID-19 on the Commonwealth’s cultural sector and the federal government’s response to the pandemic. Register now.
Culture Chats Be sure to take part in our Culture Chats hosted by Mass Cultural Council Executive Director Anita Walker, featuring inspiring conversations with Massachusetts cultural leaders. This week, she talks to Tim Ritchie, President of the Museum of Science, Boston (5/19, 1 PM) and Marquis Victor, Founding Executive Director of the youth art and social justice organization Elevated Thought (5/21, 1 PM).
UP Awards Livestream Mass Cultural Council’s Universal Participation (UP) Award celebrates excellence in access and inclusion throughout the Commonwealth’s cultural sector. This year, we are partnering with HowlRound to host a five-part, livestreamed event from June 1-5, 2020. 11:00-11:30 AM (ET) daily.
Survey for Creative Workers and Artists Respond now to a survey for creative workers and artists in Massachusetts from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston and MassCreative. Doing so will help focus advocacy efforts to make certain creative individuals get the support they need.
Skills Cambridge Community Television is offering live online classes and prerecorded tutorials, free and open to the public, on topics like digital storytelling, recording audio, and family documentary filmmaking.
Opportunities to Give If you have the resources and want to donate to the arts sector, the Northampton Arts Council is accepting donations for its COVID-19 Artist Relief Fund (the video embedded above is an effort to spread the word). Easthampton City Arts is accepting donations for its Artist Grants Initiative. And Arts Administrators of Color Network has set up the Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund to support BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists AND administrators. You can find more opportunities to donate in the recent ArtSake discussion Why Do You Support Other Artists?
Masks Along similar lines, if you have the skills and resources to create and donate masks for COVID-19 safety, Somerville Arts Council has mask-making guidelines.
City of Art In a video, Mayor Curtatone of Somerville speaks directly to artists and gig workers. Though he’s speaking to creative individuals in his own city, his message could apply to artists throughout the Commonwealth: “Art speaks to our creativity, our originality, our diversity. It’s part of our DNA.”
Read all COVID-19-related news and resources on ArtSake
Image and media: In Need Of Love Today: A Multitrack Extravaganza, created by Frank Padellaro and Luke Jaeger (Film & Video Finalist ’07) to promote the Northampton Arts Council’s COVID-19 Artist Relief Fund; Alexander Abdulah performing at the 2018 UP Award ceremony, photo by Mercure Photography.
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