Artist Resources - The Word with
Heather René Dunaway
September 2024
Let me first start off with – I hope you’re ok. That was something terrible we all went through, and the aftermath is still taking its toll. As I write this, 60% of Augustans still don’t have power. We are on a boil water advisory, for those of us that have water. Everyone is tired, stressed, hungry and maybe a bit stinky (I know I am).
I will be happy to see our arts community come together to celebrate once the dust (or should I say tree debris) settles. For now its been amazing to see the lengths we are willing to go for each other. Local businesses and organizations opening their doors, giving out food, providing power or ice. When it’s so easy to go to the negative in times like these, it’s refreshing to see folks spreading positivity and hope. It will be important to remember these folks when things are back to normal. People still have events planned, businesses to run, art to create.
A lot of artists are out of work right now. Shows getting postponed or canceled, artwork and equipment getting destroyed in the storm. So, I’m going to keep this blog session short.
There are resources available to artists who have been affected by disasters such as Hurricane Helene. I’ve spent the better part of the past two days researching what grants are available, building on a short list the Arts Council had created during Covid. Denise, our new Executive Director and former Public Art Manager, is working toward getting funding for some local grants together. It’s been hard with the in-and-out service/internet and power but what we have found so far is in the link below, and we will update as we find more.
Artist Relief Resources – Greater Augusta Arts Council
I hope these help. These are rolling grants with no deadlines.
Please stay safe.
-Heather