WV FLOOD RELIEF GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR CULTURAL RESOURCES & ARTISTS

The West Virginia Division of Culture and History can offer matching grants between $2,000 and $10,000 to West Virginia nonprofit arts and history organizations whose buildings or collections were impacted by recent flooding.

The Cultural Facilities and Capital Resources Fast Track ADA Emergency Grants provide emergency funds to address damage and the threat of damage or unsafe conditions involving a building or collection. This includes damage to an art or history museum’s infrastructure or sudden failure of equipment that may result in harm to the collections and public safety. Smaller renovation and construction projects needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act also are eligible. This program has a rolling deadline, and funds for approved projects are generally available within 6 weeks.

Funding for the grant program is provided by the West Virginia Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, contact Debbie Haught, program coordinator, at (304) 558-0240 ext. 714 or Debbie.R.Haught@wv.gov or visit www.wvculture.org/Arts.

CERF+ relief assistance: CERF+ would like to make sure that any professional artist working in a craft discipline seriously affected by the flooding is aware of the emergency relief assistance available from CERF+. If, as an artist, you have suffered loss, please contact us when able. If, as an arts organization representative, you know of artists in the disaster areas, or plan to correspond with your artist constituents in the near future, please pass this information on. If there are organizations that directly work with artists in your community that you think we should know about, please send us their contact information.

Direct Assistance to Artists Working in Craft Disciplines: CERF+’s programs include:

• Grants up to $6,000;
• No-interest loans up to $9,000;
• Booth fee waivers at craft shows;
• Discounts on materials and equipment from suppliers and manufacturers;
• Assistance with business development through referrals to consultants and other low or no-cost resources.

For eligibility requirements and more detailed information, please visit the Emergency Relief section of our website or contact us at: CERF+ PO Box 838 Montpelier, VT 05601 ph: (802) 229-2306 fx: (802) 223-6484 relief@craftemergency.org www.craftemergency.org

Emergency Preparedness and Recovery Information for Artists The CERF+ Studio Protector website has extensive information and resources designed to help artists and those helping them in the disaster recovery effort, as well as disaster planning resources.

• Getting help from FEMA and other major relief providers
• Disaster aid provided by arts related organizations
• Managing disaster recovery volunteers and volunteering
• Tips for disaster clean-up
• Salvage and e-salvage tips
• Rebounding after a disaster
• Video interviews with artists who have been through disasters New York Foundation for the Arts’ national artists’ emergency resource list in NYFA Source Stay in Touch with CERF+

We rely on people like you to let us know when an artist has been affected by a disaster. Help us help artists in need by staying in touch with CERF+. Join our mailing list to receive these notices and other CERF+ information aimed at safeguarding and sustaining the careers of craft artists and providing emergency resources that benefit all artists. Thank you for helping spread the word about CERF+! Share on Facebook. Please contact me if you have questions, Les Snow Program Manager relief@craftemergency.org