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Arts Relief Fund begins first wave of distribution
The Pinellas Community Arts Relief Fund began distribution of more than $55,000 in emergency funds Tuesday, for 100 Pinellas County artists in all disciplines.
The collaborative effort between Creative Pinellas, the St. Petersburg Arts Arts Alliance and the Pinellas Community Foundation has raised more than $110,000 since its inception one week ago.
“We received close to 300 applications from artists and arts businesses of all kinds,” PCF Community Foundation CEO Dugan Cooley said in a news release. “The need is clearly great, and we are moving as quickly as possible in order to get the funds into the hands of the people who need them.”
Because the need is greater than the available funds can support, grants are being awarded based on demonstrable need, prioritizing funding to the most vulnerable.
Applications for the Community Arts Relief Fund are temporarily currently closed, according to the release, as the current applications are reviewed and available funds are distributed. The Arts Community Relief Fund committee is committed to continuing to raise funds, seeking support from donors, philanthropists and foundations in order to reopen the fund to new applicants as quickly as possible.
To contribute to the Community Arts Relief Fund please visit https://pinellascf.org/pinellasartsrelief.
Karen Porter
April 9, 2020at5:47 pm
Just curious: How is it determined which artists are “most vulnerable”? Or most in need? We are all in need. The artist of this community did not do this to themselves. ALL Pinellas County artists deserve support if the county wants to keep the artists in the community around for the future.
Mike Manning
April 9, 2020at8:20 am
Happy we can keep our arts community viable during this challenge. Pinellas truly thinks forward at all times. I love living here!