Covid-19 Resources

COVID-19 Resources

The ACSO board and staff stand in solidarity and support with all our members who have cancelled or postponed concerts and other programming to comply with state and federal mandates and to protect the health and safety of their staff, musicians, and patrons. As COVID-19 continues to spread, orchestras and musicians are anticipating great financial loss and we are deeply concerned about their financial recovery in the aftermath of this viral outbreak.

ACSO has compiled a number of resources to support orchestra and ensembles in these challenging times and we will continue to update this list as we get new information (see below).

ACSO has also been actively advocating for orchestras and the arts to be included local, state, and federal relief funding. We are participating in the advocacy campaigns of our partners, including Californians for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, California Society of Association Executives, CalNonprofits, Arts for LA, Performing Arts Alliance, and the League of American Orchestras.

During the week of March 23 we held a series of five Connection Calls with various groups of the leaders of our member organizations to open lines of communication, to share how we are all responding to the unprecedented challenges, and to discuss updates and news. This is a short summary of the major topics and themes that were discussed in each call. Many of these groups will continue to meet regularly in the coming months.

We are hosting Virtual Peer Forums in April, which are peer-to-peer conversations designed to allow you to connect with your counterparts at other orchestras and ensembles in the ACSO membership network. This is a space to discuss working during times of transition, to exchange ideas, to ask questions, and to share practices that have worked well (or not) for you and your organization. Most importantly, it is an opportunity to strengthen your professional networks and find colleagues to rely on for support. Learn more and sign-up for a Peer Forum here.

Emergency Relief Funds - Federal, State, Local

Federal

California

Local

Emergency Funding & Resources for Musicians

Disaster Unemployment Fact Sheet and Disaster Unemployment Assistance from CA Employment Development Department
COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources
The Actors Fund - offers emergency financial assistance that helps artists in the performing arts and entertainment field in need
Arts and Culture Leaders of Color Emergency Fund - intended to help those pursuing careers as artists or arts administrators whose income has been directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This fund is for those who self-identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color).
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund - for musicians or music industry workers who lost 50% of your income, you're eligible to apply to this fund.
Musicians Foundation Fund - for United States-based musicians who've been active for the past five years are eligible to apply for a microgrant.
MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund - intended to help musicians in the music community affected by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance - helps unemployed Californians who are business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, have limited work history, and others not usually eligible for regular state UI benefits who are out of business or services are significantly reduced as a direct result of the pandemic.

Take Action – Lend Your Voice to Advocacy Efforts

Americans for the Arts Impact Survey
Association of Performing Arts Professionals Impact Survey
Sign on to CalNonprofits’ letter asking California policymakers to enact emergency measures to protect nonprofits.

Arts & Nonprofit Industry Resources

Business Preparedness & Response

ArtsReady - An online emergency preparedness service with a number of COVID-19 preparedness resources from across the arts and culture sector.
California Employers Association Remote Worker Fact Sheet
Nonprofit Times COVID-19 Employer Toolkit

Orchestra Response Samples - including examples of concert cancellation language, messages to ticketholders and patrons

Webinars Recordings
Links to recordings of webinars offering useful resources, instruction, and guidance on navigating the effects of the Coronavirus.