Gradually Resume
The City of Chicago is currently in Phase Four: "Gradually Resume." Many City services have adjusted hours or locations and may require health screens prior to entering their physical
spaces. Please call ahead or visit any department's website to get additional details, or visit chicago.gov/covid-19.
COVID-19 Arts Relief & Resources
DCASE Homepage > COVID-19 Arts Relief & Resources
Be Safe Chicago Industry Guidelines
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot, alongside the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), industry leaders, labor leaders, and public officials, have developed industry-specific guidelines for safely operating within Phase IV: Gradually Resume. These guidelines are part of the city’s Be Safe Chicago framework that will be used to guide Chicago’s reopening process amid COVID-19. Aligned with the State of Illinois but tailored to Chicago’s context, these guidelines advise employers and residents of Chicago on how to gradually resume reopening while continuing to prioritize the health of our most vulnerable residents.
Current guidelines for Film & TV Production; Museums; Performance Venues; and Movie Theaters can be found at the Be Safe Chicago Industry Guidelines page under the Arts & Culture tab in multiple languages. Additional information is available in the Chicago Museum Industry Guidebook.
COVID-19 Arts Relief
DCASE is a proud partner and contributor to the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund – providing financial relief to workers and organizations in the creative industries impacted by COVID-19. The fund is a partnership between the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois and the broader philanthropic community. The Arts for Illinois Relief Fund is administered by Arts Alliance Illinois in partnership with 3Arts and Arts Works Fund, long-standing and trusted service organizations and grantmakers.
Apply or Donate at wwwArtsforIllinois.org
Individual artists and artisans – including stage and production members and part-time cultural workers – experiencing an urgent need are able to apply for one-time grants of $1,500 distributed by 3Arts. Grants will be awarded through a lottery system and will be disseminated quickly. Additionally, nonprofit arts and cultural organizations of any size will be able to apply for relief through the Arts Work Fund. Based on their demonstrated financial need, organizations will be awarded grants from $6,000 – $30,000.
Fundraising activities are co-chaired by First Lady MK Pritzker and First Lady Amy Eshleman, with support from other civic leaders. Donations to the fund will go directly to artists and arts organizations throughout Illinois. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Individuals, corporations and charitable foundations are encouraged to donate.
COVID-19 Arts Community Resources
Following is a partial list of Arts Community Resources – including a number of arts service organizations providing frequently updated news and resources for artists and arts organizations. Please let us know if you have an additional arts community resource that isn't listed here.
Please refer to the Chicago Department of Public Health's website, chicago.gov/coronavirus, for the latest local updates on the response to COVID-19.
Financial Support – Local
Chicago Dancers United – The Dancers’ Fund for Critical Health Need
Chicago Federation of Musicians – Chicago Musicians Emergency Relief Fund
City of Chicago – Employment and Financial Assistance
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation – Collections Emergency Relief Fund
Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity – Emergency Small Business Grants and Loans
Seasons of Concern Chicago – Emergency Medical Assistance for Chicago’s Theater Community
Financial Support – US
Actors Fund – Emergency Financial Assistance
American Guild of Musical Artists – Relief Fund
American Society of Journalists and Authors – Writers Emergency Assistance Fund
Artists’ Charitable Fund for Medical Expenses
Artists’ Fellowship – Emergency Aid to Professional Visual Artists
The Blues Foundation – COVID-19 Blues Musician Emergency Relief Fund
Book Industry Charitable Foundation – Assistance to Booksellers and Comic Retailers
Dramatists Guild Foundation – Emergency Grants
Equal Sound – Corona Relief Fund for Musicians
Facebook – Small Business Grants Program
Foundation for Contemporary Arts – COVID-19 Relief Fund
Jazz Foundation of America – Musicians’ Emergency Fund
Kickstarter – COVID-19 Artist Resources
New York Foundation for the Arts – Rauschenberg Emergency Grants
Pinetop Perkins Foundation – Pinetop Assistance League (PAL) for Elder Musicians
PEN America – Writers’ Emergency Fund
Queer Writers of Color Relief Fund
The Recording Academy MusiCares – COVID-19 Relief Fund
The Soze Foundation – Artist + Activist Relief Fund
Sweet Relief – COVID-19 Fund for Musicians and Music Workiers
Twenty Summer – Art Interrupted Emergency Arts Fund
Impact Survey
Arts Alliance Illinois – COVID-19 Cultural Sector Impact Assessment
Artists Resources
AIGI (American Institute of Graphic Arts) – COVID 19 Resources
American Booksellers Association
American Photographic Artists – Resources
Americans for the Arts – Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource and Response Center
Arts Midwest – COVID-19 Resources
CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund)
Center for Creative Entrepreneurship
Chicago Artist Guide – COVID-19 Resources for Theatre Artists in Chicago
Chicago Musician – Resources for Organizations and Individuals Impacted by Cancellations
Common Field – COVID-19 Resources
COVID-19 & Freelance Artist Resources
Creative Capital – Artist Resources
Dance/USA – Resources Related to Coronavirus
Dramatists Guild – COVID-19 Resources
Lawyers for the Creative Arts – Coronavirus Resources for the Arts Community
League of American Orchestras – Coronavirus Response Page
National Coalition for the Arts' Preparedness and Emergency Response
National Endowment for the Arts – COVID-19 Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations
National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) – COVID-19 Resources
National Performance Network (NPN) – COVID-19 Resources
Poets & Writers – Resources for Writers in the Time of Coronavirus
See Chicago Dance – COVID-19 Arts Resources
Springboard for the Arts – Principles for Ethical Cancellation
Statera Arts – Emergency Response Directory
Sundance Film Festival – COVID-19 Preparedness Practices and Resources for Artists
Theater Communications Group – Coronavirus Preparedness for Theaters
Sharing Your Art from Your Home
Arts Alliance Illinois – Artist Content Platform Submission
Choose Chicago – Experience Chicago Online
Eventbrite – COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Resources for Event Creators
Experimental Sound Studios – The Quarantine Concerts
Howlround Theatre Commons – Ways of Gathering in the Age of COVID-19
Springboard for the Arts – Principles for Ethical Cancellation
StageIt – Online Concert Venue
Storefront Rebellion – Chicago Theater Productions You Can Stream at Home
Think with Google – A Guide to Hosting Your Events on YouTube
WTTW – Ways to Explore and Experience the World Safely from Home