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“For the arts to thrive, we need thriving artists,” said Doña Ana Arts Council (DAAC) Executive Director Greg Smith, as he introduced a new DAAC program to help struggling local artists through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
With anonymous donations, the DAAC Artist Relief Fund began this month, Smith said. Through the program, local culinary, literary, performing and visual artists can apply for $100 grants, which will be awarded at the end of each month, beginning with August.
Grants will continue to be awarded at least through Dec. 31, 2020, Smith said, and into the new year if DAAC continues to receive donations to support the program and there is approval from the DAAC board of directors.
Many artists “struggle in the best of times,” Smith said. “We want to help them in this time.”
To apply for a $100 grant, an artist must be at least 21 years of age, be listed in the DAAC directory and have financial need, Smith said. There are no restrictions on how the grant is to be spent, he said.
Donations to support the Artist Relief Fund are welcome, Smith said.
“We appreciate the generosity that we’ve already experienced with this program to benefit the arts in our community,” he said.
To apply for a grant, email either director@daarts.org or admin@daarts.org. Application forms are also available at the DAAC office, 1740 Calle de Mercado until Aug. 31, and 250 W. Amador Ave. beginning Sept. 1.
For more information, visit daarts.org and click on ARTIST RELIEF FUND ANNOUNCED.
DAAC’s new arts directory is now being created, said DAAC Communication Director Kathleen Albers. Albers said DAAC wants to include film, literary, performing, visual and culinary artists in the directory, along with arts organizations, venues and arts-related businesses.
DAAC will hold a Zoom meeting beginning at noon on Friday, Aug. 28 to hear feedback on the directory, she said. To participate in the meeting, email manager@daarts.org, and include “Zoom Promoting Arts” in the subject line of your email. The Zoom session can accommodate up to 100 people, Albers said.
Albers said the directory likely will include about 800 entries when it is completed, and DAAC will keep it updated.
For more information, visit www.daarts.org and click on "ARTS DIRECTOR" on the right-hand side.
