Hurricane recovery
The following is a list of resources for artists and others to receive relief and aid following the destruction of recent hurricanes. At the bottom is a list of organizations you can donate to. We will continue to add resources as we find them. If you would like to share resources, have questions, or need assistance with applications due to limited internet access please email us at inclusiveblacksmiths@gmail.com.
Please feel free to share this information as widely as possible. A link to download this as a PDF is available below.
Aid for artists (new resources at top of list)
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HCAC Helene Support Grant
https://haywoodarts.org/grants-funding/
A $300-$1500 grant for artists who live in Haywood County, North Carolina
“Eligible artists must be active members of the HCAC as of September 2024, and must be working in one of the following artistic fields: craft, literary, media, performing, visual, or interdisciplinary arts.”
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Arts AVL Emergency Relief Grant
“The grant provides $500 relief stipends to arts professionals working in craft, literary, media, performing, visual, and interdisciplinary arts…open to arts professionals 18 years or older in Western North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Helene, including Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey.”
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Craft Futures Fund
https://www.centerforcraft.org/grants-and-fellowships/craft-futures-fund
$500 emergency relief grants for artists, reviewed on a weekly basis
“This is a one-time unrestricted grant. There are no reporting requirements. Grantees should put the funds toward their area of greatest, immediate financial need.”
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CERF+ emergency relief
https://cerfplus.org/grants/emergency-relief/
For questions, contact programs@cerfplus.org or (802) 229-2306.
“If you are assisting an artist in an emergency situation, you may apply on their behalf provided you have their permission. Ensure the artist meets the eligibility criteria and gather all necessary contact information and materials required for the application.”
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Temporary housing at Touchstone
https://www.touchstonecrafts.org/
Or call 724-329-1370
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Aid for Artists organized by Treats Studios
https://www.treatsstudios.org/artist-support-helene
Add yourself to the network of artists in need
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National Coalition for Arts Preparedness: rapid damage assessment form for individual artists
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2HxSk2buhUL3Z4LnB8erNUFDTVhklXJbzyVLriOgmRh_Ulg/viewform
This is not a FEMA form, but another organization assessing and offering aid for artists
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Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants program
2025.https://www.scartshub.com/medical-financial-emergency-grant-opportunities-for-scartists/
one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent, unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies experienced by artists in financial need who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, or choreography.
Cycle 27 will be open October 29 – November 26 for emergencies occurring April 1, 2024 and after.
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Artists Fellowship
https://www.artistsfellowship.org/financial_aid_application_new2024
“The Artists’ Fellowship provides one-time emergency aid to professional visual artists and their families in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement, or unexpected extreme hardship.”
“If you are unable to fill out an application online, contact the office by email at info@artistfellowship.org”
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Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program
https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/emergency-grant
“intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation.”
Up to $15000, generally around $5000
No deadline
Other aid (new resources at top of list)
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Guide to applying for aid, by National Coalition of Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response
https://www.ncaper.org/ncaperfieldguide
“...snapshot of federal disaster assistance programs that can go into effect after a presidentially declared disaster…includes in-depth information about financial assistance from (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), along with introductory information about other federal resources that provide a mixture of financial and other assistance.”
This is a long and detailed guide that you have to download. It should be useful as you think about long term recovery and are ready to fill out lots of forms
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Google sheet with aid for all areas affected, organized by city or county and state
Some resources are governmental, some are local businesses or other groups. Types of resources include food and shelter, physical help, medicine, legal, etc. If you have resources to offer there is a form to submit them
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FEMA disaster aid application
https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
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FEMA Individuals and households program (IHP)
https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/program
“financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs.”
Supplement to general FEMA aid
Funds for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, such as rental assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs
Funds to support the repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes that serve as the household’s primary residence, including privately-owned access routes, such as driveways, roads, or bridges
A temporary housing unit, if approved for the disaster, when you are not able to use rental assistance due to a lack of available housing resources
Funds for hazard mitigation assistance to help eligible homeowners repair or rebuild stronger, more durable homes
Funds for other uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Assistance finding housing
nationwide network of housing counseling agencies (HCAs) and certified counselors.
HUD-participating HCAs are approved and trained to provide tools to current and prospective homeowners and renters so they can make responsible choices to address their housing needs considering their financial situations.
Support artists directly (sales and donations)
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Penland
https://penland.org/shop/product-category/wnc-artists/
Craft school in NC with on site gallery
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Torched AVL gallery
https://torchedavl.com/shop-wnc
Based In Asheville NC, “Inclusive community art space teaching a variety of classes for all skill levels, with a retail gallery of handmade fine art.”
Link goes to page of all WNC artists
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Aid for Artists organized by Treats Studios
https://www.treatsstudios.org/artist-support-helene
Treats studios is a building owned and run by a group of artists in Spruce Pine NC, they started Aid For Artists after Helene to provide community support to affected artists
Links to donate to or buy from artists affected by Helene
Donate/provide aid (new resources at top of list)
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Google sheet with ways to help in the WNC area
WNC Helene - Ways to Give/Volunteer
You can look for ways to assist by type of support (volunteer or financial), what specifically is needed, etc. Every entry has a source, a contact, and a description of the need
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CERF+
https://secure.givelively.org/donate/craft-emergency-relief-fund-inc
Mission: serve craft artists by supporting strong and sustainable careers through our core values of education, advocacy, emergency relief, and readiness
“only national organization focused on the readiness, relief, and recovery of craft artists”
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World Central Kitchen
https://donate.wck.org/give/622465/#!/donation/checkout
Immediate assistance/food relief
Mission:“providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. When disaster strikes, WCK’s Chef Relief Team mobilizes to the frontlines with the urgency of now to start cooking and provide meals to people in need”
“responding to communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Multiple WCK food truck partners and our new Rapid Response Field Kitchen were pre-positioned to provide hot meals quickly after the storm had passed. We're currently responding in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee”
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Appalatia funders network
https://www.appalachiafunders.org/
“The Appalachia Funders Network creates catalytic opportunities for funders to collaborate, connect, and drive progress”
Donate directly, or list of mutual aid networks
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Penland
https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/On4MXA?vid=1803f7
Well known craft school in North Carolina, sheltered teachers, students, and community members during the storm
Still serving as a community center for aid and internet access
Currently closed, no fall classes
Donation will help keep teachers and staff paid and school running while it is closed
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Beloved Asheville
https://belovedasheville.com/get-involved/
“BeLoved Asheville is deeply committed to supporting our community during this time of crisis. In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, we are dedicating all our resources to providing essential aid to those affected.”
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North Carolina Disaster relief fund
https://www.nc.gov/disaster-relief-fund-faqs
State government fund