Some of the storm-hit region’s arts leaders have shared this information today about CERF+, which is “part of a national emergency and disaster network of arts responders, which is gathering information from arts organizations, artists, arts-related businesses, and other on-the-ground groups to assess the storm’s impact on artists.” CERF+ has been recommended by those who appreciated it as a resource following Hurricane Ike.
Its website and resource network help artists in a number of key ways, from simply offering easy updates and targeted connections to FEMA and Red Cross, to updates on safety measures and announcements, to teaching “best practices for Clean Up, Salvage, Volunteer Management, and Saving Water Damaged Artwork,” to direct emergency financial relief “for eligible artists who work in craft disciplines and have suffered career-threatening emergencies.”
CERF+ has an emergency/disaster relief program called the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, which “provides grants up to $6,000 and interest-free loans up to $9,000 to artists working in craft disciplines who are facing a career threatening emergency or disaster. CERF+ staff is available during the week from 8:30 am-5:30pm EST at 802.229.2306 and [email protected] to provide counseling and referrals to artists about emergency resources.”
CERF+’s updates will be posted at www.cerfplus.org and its Facebook page.