Below is a listing of some available Covid-19 programs to help artists, technicians, freelancers, ushers, bartenders, musicians and theater related companies in North Carolina.

This website is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the content on any Covid-19 related pages. These resources are provided free of charge and are for information only.

---

✅

4/24 NC Unemployment update – NC Unemployment is now sending out the extra $600 for unemployed workers who were laid off and filed their claims as W2 employees. This $600 is in addition to any state unemployment compensation that you may receive.

The above additional unemployment is different than the available $600 per week from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program which was part of the overall C.A.R.E.S. act passed by congress in March. The FPUA is intended to cover gig workers, freelancers and those who make a lot of their income from 1099’s as private contractors. https://des.nc.gov/apply-unemploymenthttps://des.nc.gov/apply-unemploymentAs of Friday April 24th, NC is accepting PUA claims. Click here to view the department of labor’s website. North Carolina Unemployment Department.

State Programs

✅ NC Artist Relief Fund
Emergency Grant | North Carolina
Artists and Arts Presenters

✅ Durham Artist Relief Fund
Location: Durham, North Carolina

Artist, arts presenter or arts venues in need of funds due to COVID-19 can apply for funding.

✅ Durham Arts Council Arts Recovery Fund
(Durham, NC)

The Durham Arts Council Arts Recovery Fund provides grants to working artists that have suffered financial loss due to the cancellation of events because of COVID-19. Applicants must live in Durham County, be at least 18, have practiced their art form for at least three years and have suffered a documented loss due to COVID-19.

✅ Mecklenburg Creatives Resiliency Fund
(Mecklenburg County, NC)

The Mecklenburg Creatives Resiliency Fund helps creative practitioners in Mecklenburg County recover from personal emergencies by helping pay an unanticipated, emergency expense or by augmenting lost income due to the cancellation of a specific, scheduled gig or opportunity (i.e. commissions, performances, contracts) due to Coronavirus/COVID-19 precautionary measures. ASC will provide flat $500 awards to applicants meeting the fund criteria as long as funding is available.

✅ Orange County Arts Support Fund
(Orange County, NC)

This is a money-in, money-out fund. The maximum grant that can be provided to one individual at this time is $600. The first round of applications closed April 10. The next round will re-open soon. 

✅ Pitt County Arts Relief Fund
(Pitt County, NC)

The Arts Relief Fund has been created to support creative individuals and organizations in Pitt County who have been financially impacted by the outbreak of COVID-19.