We are all in this together.

The ongoing quarantine due to the Coronavirus has affected a lot of businesses but few have been as impacted as local entertainment. While television and movie studios are surviving and streaming services are doing quite well all things considered, live theater  is struggling right now.  However one would think that both amateur and professional theater will return with minimal damage (assuming they are not crushed by overzealous banks demanding rent while the business cannot, in any way, make money).

Movie theaters are in a different boat, though. The rise of streaming services already undercut their viability and the increase in “home theaters” further eroded their base. It would be easy to presume that after spending weeks or possibly even months away from them that when we can return we might not, but I don’t think that will happen. Why? Because moving from movie theaters to home viewing as the primary outlet has been tried before and it failed. We may have giant 4K TVs and surround sound but those pale to seeing Iron Man in IMAX 3D. Some films benefit from intimate viewing but there are a lot more films that are best watched together as a community experience. I’m not just talking about superhero films or things that may be fast and / or furious. I’m talking about things like James Bond and A Quiet Place. I’m talking about It and Get Out. There are a lot of movies that just aren’t the same at home. Also, don’t forget that movie theaters have been adapting to the new normal for a while now. More and more have reclining seats, bigger and better food options, and full bars. Is it more expensive than the food and booze at your house? Yes, but so is the food you just ate from a restaurant before you went to see that movie.

People need to go out. People need to be amongst other people. We are social creatures at heart. Movie theaters will survive this. I do think there will be some more changes, however. Cinebistro has locations in multiple states and they are all only for 21 and over moviegoers. Other theater chains could do something similar, be it select screenings or set times, but it would allow people to see films with less chance of distraction. They could do other things to make screenings an event, like partner up with a liquor distributor or a nearby restaurant to offer some kind of package deal as The Senator does here in Baltimore.

Newspapers, magazines, and comic books have survived the digital onslaught that predicted their doom. Movie theaters will do the same. They will be different, but they will still be here.

In the meantime we know a lot of independent artists are feeling the loss of gigs. Below is a list of resources that you can use as well as the Patreons/GoFundMes/Artist pages for several local artists. Please feel free to share as needed and remember:

Be safe, wash your hands, stay home & stay healthy. We’re all in this together. We love you!

Note: You may want to download the Evernote App to get all your documents together if you don’t have a home scanner or if everything isn’t saved to your laptop/desktop.

GENERAL RESOURCES

Actors Fund
This fund is based in Chicago but is Nationwide, if you’re a performer who meets the below qualifications you should be able to apply: Current financial need (inability to pay next two month’s bills); A minimum of five years of recent entertainment industry employment with earnings of at least $6,500 for three out of the last five years OR a minimum of 20 years of industry employment with a minimum of 10 years of earnings of at least $5,000 (please note that income from teaching does not qualify). Eligibility requirements for dancers—three years of recent dance earnings of at least $2,000 a year.

The AGMA Relief Fund
This fund is specifically for musical artist who need help. 

Baltimore League of Theatres
Updating weekly with resources for both Independent artists or organizations you can find a host of general information on how to get help.

Alanah’s Covid-19 Emergency Fund
Here you can either donate or apply for funding if you’re a freelancer/contract artist. 

Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Fund
This one is specifically for painters, printmakers and sculptors who’ve suffered an unforeseen or catastrophic incident and need help to meet the situation. It’s a one-time assistance for specific emergencies.

Authors Publish Listing of Emergency Funds for Writers
16 emergency funds for writers of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, plays, and for translators, freelance writers and journalists.

Greater Baltimore SCORE (For Small Business Owners)
The Small Business Administration offers disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans to businesses, renters, and homeowners located in regions affected by declared disasters.

SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program
Small Business Administration Federal Disaster Loans for Businesses, Private Non-profits, Homeowners and Renters

COVID-19 Relief Package Briefing: An Americans for the Arts Virtual Check-In
Video Replay (requires registration)

Freelance Artist Resource Listing of Emergency Funding for Artists
Extensive listing of grants and relief funding for artists 

Americans for the Arts Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource and Response Center

Creative Capital List of Arts Resources During the COVID-19 Outbreak

Arts Council of Anne Arundel County Ways to Support the Arts Sector
Arts Council of Anne Arundel County Ways to Support the Arts Sector

RedRover Relief Emergency Boarding Grants
Not really arts-related, but they provide financial assistance for pet boarding while pet owners are hospitalized due to the COVID-19 virus.

Baltimore Brew Listing of Resources Available to Baltimore Area Residents
Baltimore Brew Listing of Resources Available to Baltimore Area Residents

Mobtown Ballroom Telethon
A 12-24 hour (TBD) live streamed variety show featuring a dense bill of Baltimore artists, business owners, industry workers, educators, and hobbyists. Participants will have the opportunity to perform/present live from the Ballroom while their Venmo or Paypal information is on screen for viewers to directly donate.

DC Improv
There are links there for their staff and to purchase venue credits so they can keep the doors open.

Transcendent Events
Transcendent Events have been holding ongoing nerd trivia and online concerts for a small fee. Check them out!

Vilcek Foundation
This one is specifically for immigrant artists who need help in theater.

INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS

Porsha Olayiwola
Porsha Olayiwola is a writer, performer, educator and curator who uses afro-futurism and surrealism to examine historical and current issues in the Black, woman, and queer diasporas. She is an Individual World Poetry Slam Champion and is the current poet laureate for the city of Boston. Her Spring tour was cancelled thus affecting her income through the Fall. Her book, I Shimmer Sometimes, Too is also available for purchase. 

Allie Press
I’ve wanted to be an actress since my first school play in third grade. Now, with my BFA under my belt, I’m working my hardest to build my career as a professional actor. Health struggles this past year have left me with fatigue problems. Luckily, I’ve been able to manage without a 9 to 5 day job, allowing me to recover, and to go on auditions and gigs when feeling well. Film acting requires a weirdly open schedule, so I work multiple hustles to make money and keep my calendar flexible. Every little bit helps.

Jessica Felice
Jessica is also a professional Voice-Over Artist in work ranging from Animation, Video Games, Industrials and Commercial work, and has done some professional theatre including several touring shows, summer stock and local professional shows which put her degree to good use.

Shawn Anthony
Shawn Anthony  is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, known for making supernatural horror films. His most praised films include the supernatural horror thriller SoulMate (2012), the vampire drama Blood loss (2014), the found footage horror film The American Werewolf Project (2013) the upcoming period piece horror The Haunted (2017), and the demonic horror action film The Possessed (2017). His other films include Lazarus Rising (2014), The Price (2014), as well as being instrumental in the creation of the anthology horror VoD series Tales of Horror.

Belle Burr
I’m an actor, teacher and writer, trying to navigate the worlds of theater, the educational system and life while keeping my feet on the ground, my head in the clouds and my frustrations at a minimum. Buy me a coffee and I’ll read you a story!

Lorraine Imwold Art
Baltimore based printmaker, who as an untrained artist is constantly seeking growth and evolution through art. Experimenting with different media, and materials, subject matters expands and informs her printmaking. Specializing in Live and En Plein Air printmaking, she works to create art that is timely and meaningful for the audience or exhibit.

Maggie Lewis Miniature Inspirations
Handmade felt sculptures.

Sarah Magida
Artwork and Life Coaching

Titanium Melon
Kathleen Parker is an animator, illustrator and game developer living in the Baltimore area. Her passion is to create awesome content for people to enjoy or learn from. She has a range of skills from animating to sculpting, both traditional and digital media. Sometimes she can be seen wearing her melon helm awaiting to do battle.

LizAnn Miller
My father is an African-American oil painter in Michigan. I grew up modeling for his paintings and sitting in while he taught his college courses at Kendall College of Art & Design. I am an interdisciplinary hair sculptor with an undergrad art degree from Towson University and an MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art. Paypal: PayPal.me/junovalencia 

Merrytale Wands
Adding Magic & Whimsy to Every Adventure 

Talyn Draconmore Art
On Redbubble
On Patreon

Tristan Heles
Music, More Music
Email for art commissions

Ghost Bat
John de Campos Illustration/Comics/Art Monster

Megan Wills
Give A Little Bit Of Your Love To Charm City organized by Megan Wills
Astrology Chart Creation and Interpretation

Hannah Fogler, makeup artist and teaching artist
Paypal: hannah.r.fogler@gmail.com.

Mel Tillery Art
On Redbubble
On Patreon

Insane Ian
Hi there! My name is Insane Ian and I do comedy songs and music videos about pop culture stuff like TV shows, movies, comic books, and of course video games, and I’ve been doing so consistently since 2008.

Tiger Torre Art
Tiger Torre works out of her home in Baltimore, Maryland. She has been making hand molded, hand painted, wearable leather art since 1996. Alongside the masks and crowns, there are other leather goods and accessories made by Tiger.
On Redbubble
On Society6

Jared Stern
Jared has been making complete strangers laugh at him for over fifteen years. From humble beginnings at a hole-in-the-wall club in Baltimore, he is now the most humble person in the world, not that he’s one to brag about it. He was recently told that his comedy was “top drawer”, which is where he keeps his socks and underwear, so that makes sense.

*Special thanks to Simply Sherri and Patricia Mitchell for collating this list and all their hard work in supporting the artist community.

*This list will be updated weekly as we continue to gather artist information.