ARTIST RESOURCES
On behalf of our members and the local artistic community as a whole, the Board of the Elora Fergus Arts Council has reached out to local federal and provincial representatives and arts funding bodies to compile a list of resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is the advice we have received:
- The Federal Government has announced a number of support programs for people impacted financially. For information please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html
- The Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) CERB is likely the program that most should be looking at for now. If you have stopped working because of COVID-19, the CERB may provide you with temporary income support. It provides a taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to eligible workers who have lost their income due to COVID-19. As first implemented, the (CERB) Canada Emergency Relief benefit was available to those income has been stopped, if they had earned income of over $5000 in the last year. However, adjustments are being made almost daily.
This is a federal government program, and people can apply through their MY CRA Account. For more information on the CERB, including an FAQ and application procedures visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html
- On March 25th, the Ontario Ministry of Finance, introduced Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19. You will find information on this plan by visiting: www.ontario.ca/marchupdate
- The Canada Council for the Arts has made available an FAQ page on its website which is updated whenever new information becomes available:
https://canadacouncil.ca/covid-19-information Since the beginning of this pandemic, the Director has been in constant contact with Federal government representatives at the highest level to ensure that the cultural sector has a voice when aid measures are developed. The Council has taken measures to provide a degree of stability to its core clients across the country. Other measures involve working with current grant recipients whose project grants involved travel or other activities affected by the general shutdown.Professional artists in general should look at the measures put in place by the Federal Government to support self-employed individuals. This information is also available at: https://canadacouncil.ca/covid-19-information
- The Ontario Arts Council has developed the FAQ below to provide information about specific questions you may have and situations you may be
in: https://www.arts.on.ca/news-resources/news/2020/covid-19-faqs-and-guidelines-for-grant-applicants-and-recipients
Things are changing very quickly with the COVID-19 and announcements are being made daily. You can keep up to date on announcements by visiting the websites noted above and following these organizations on social media.
Stay home and stay well,
Your Elora Fergus Arts Council Board of Directors
https://canadacouncil.ca/covid-19-information Since the beginning of this pandemic, the Director has been in constant contact with Federal government representatives at the highest level to ensure that the cultural sector has a voice when aid measures are developed. The Council has taken measures to provide a degree of stability to its core clients across the country. Other measures involve working with current grant recipients whose project grants involved travel or other activities affected by the general shutdown.Professional artists in general should look at the measures put in place by the Federal Government to support self-employed individuals. This information is also available at: https://canadacouncil.ca/covid-19-information
in: https://www.arts.on.ca/news-resources/news/2020/covid-19-faqs-and-guidelines-for-grant-applicants-and-recipients
Your Elora Fergus Arts Council Board of Directors