Florence assistance resources
As life continues returning to normal for most in South Carolina, we’re aware that such will happen much later for many in the northeastern corner of our state.
Inland floodwaters upstream in both Carolinas are making their way to the coast through areas in South Carolina, and the problems are either getting worse in already affected areas or just beginning for others.
The South Carolina Arts Commission is concerned for the well-being of organizations and #SCartists and our staff want to provide whatever assistance we can, starting with connecting to resources (below) that can help begin the recovery process. Staff will continue to monitor and reach out to arts organizations and artists in the Pee Dee and Grand Strand regions. We have received sporadic reports of damage, and flooding continues to be a significant concern in many communities, with more anxiously watching rising waters.
If your organization is dealing with flooding or other related issues, please update your county or discipline coordinator or email or call Communications Director Jason Rapp (jrapp@arts.sc.gov or 803.734.8899) so that we can best assist your organization.
We cooperated quickly with a request by FEMA’s Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) office for a list of arts organizations in our state. The HENTF office expects to reach out soon to those in affected counties to provide information on disaster assistance. Through this post on The Hub, we are listing resources that might be of assistance, and the One SC Fund of the Central Carolina Community Foundation continues to be a leading assistance fund for South Carolinians who are victims of a state-declared disaster. (You might wish to share it with your stakeholders.)
These resources have relevance to all. We urge those of you not affected by Florence to take advantage of them. The time to get #ArtsReady and prepare for the next Florence is now, not when it’s off our coastline.
Everyone dealing with the aftermath of Florence remains in our thoughts and prayers.
Federal Resources
- FEMA Hurricane Florence Resource Page
- The following resources are provided by Americans for the Arts National Coalition for Arts’ Preparedness & Emergency Response:
- The Public Assistance Program (PA): Local, state, tribal government, and select nonprofits may apply to this program for assistance after a disaster. Nonprofits that are open to the public and either own their own facility or rent, but are obligated under their lease for all major repairs, may be able to receive significant funds for facility repair.
- Heritage Emergency National Task Force: The Heritage Emergency National Task Force is a collaboration among FEMA, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Smithsonian and 40 other national service organizations and federal agencies in support of protecting cultural assets in disasters and other emergencies. Contact Lori Foley, administrator: lori.foley@fema.dhs.gov.
- Small Business Administration (SBA) provides disaster loans for individuals, businesses and nonprofits
- The Department of Labor (DOL) runs the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) program, administered through state Departments of Labor. It provides temporary unemployment benefits for people whose jobs or self-employment are lost or interrupted as a result of a major disaster. Artists and other freelancers, who usually do not qualify for unemployment benefits, qualify for DUA.
Artist Relief
- Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+): CERF+ provides emergency grants and loans to craft artists and maintains resources for emergency readiness and recovery for artists in all disciplines.
- Studio Protector: A variety of resources for artists including tips on how to obtain assistance from FEMA and the Small Business Administration.
- Gottlieb Foundation: Funding is available to painters, printmakers, or sculptors, who have been working for at least 10 years, and have recently undergone an unforeseen catastrophic event such as a fire, flood, or medical emergency.
#ArtsReady Emergency Preparedness
- ArtsReady is a national initiative that is a web-based emergency preparedness resource designed to provide arts organization subscribers with customized business continuity plans for post crisis sustainability.
- The Performing Arts Readiness (PAR) Project, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, offers grants to arts organizations to develop emergency plans and continuity of operations plans. The National Coalition for Arts Preparedness & Emergency Response (NCAPER) is taking over the Arts Ready component and working on a simpler online tool to develop such plans. The PAR website also has recorded webinars that we have been producing on different areas of readiness as well as the grant guidelines.
- The NCAPER website is being developed but currently has a webpage on Americans for the Arts’ website. You can download a PDF of the Cultural Placekeeping Guide which was published by NCAPER after Hurricane Sandy.