Resources for artists in dealing with the impact of Sandy

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From Franklin Furnace

Below is a list of resources that are offering assistance in dealing with the impact of Hurricane Sandy, compiled from e-mailings from Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and New York Foundation for the Arts.

from LMCC www.lmcc.net

Emergency Resources for Artists:

Artists, please note: if any of your work or live/work space has been damaged, take pictures and keep receipts of whatever you spend during this time.

Self-employed people are eligible for 'disaster unemployment insurance' in areas where a federal declaration of disaster has been declared. About.com explains more: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/unemployment/g/disasterunemployment.htm

LMCC's Emergency Grants List:

http://www.lmcc.net/uploads/grants/forms/2012-Fundraising-Emergency_Gran...

NYFA's Emergency Grants List:

http://www.nyfa.org/source/content/content/disasterresources/disasterres...

Joan Mitchell Foundation: sent out this message after the Hurricane:

"If you are - or know of - a visual artist who has been affected by the hurricane please contact us. The Foundation has funding allocated specifically for emergency assistance to painters and sculptors affected by natural disasters... We know that communication for many is very limited now, but our staff can be reached by email at: info@joanmitchellfoundation.org."

Small Business Disaster Relief Loans:

Federal: Small Business Administration

(http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/loans-grants/small-busi...

City: Department of Small Business Services has set up a Sandy recovery website (http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/home/home.shtml). For more information about the loans, call 311 and ask for NYC Business Solutions.

Links to salvage / conservation / recovery information:

Conservation OnLine: http://cool.conservation-us.org/byorg/nps/npsafter.html

Studio Protector: http://www.studioprotector.org/OnlineGuide/Salvage.aspx

American Institute for Conservation: http://www.conservation-us.org/disaster

National Center for Preservation Technology and Training:

http://ncptt.nps.gov/wet-recovery/

Heritage Preservation: http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TASKFER.HTM

Craft Emergency Relief Fund: http://craftemergency.org/emergency-response

Arts Ready: https://www.artsready.org/page/useful_links

National Document Conservation Center: http://www.nedcc.org/disaster/disaster.php (Hotline: +1.978.470.1010)

MoMA consortium on conserving works released this document on emergency handling of artwork damaged by flooding.

Other:

Christie's: Christie's is arranging space for Downtown artists to use their laptops and charge their phones, and may be able to assist galleries with storage space for their art. Those interested, please call (212) 468-7177.

New York City Economic Development Corporation: For any business temporarily displaced, NYCEDC may have short-term "swing" office or storage space: information at www.nyc.gov/nycbusiness.

New York City Arts Coalition offers helpful information about FEMA: Federal disaster resources will be dependent on your (or your arts group/business) being registered at FEMA. Go to www.disasterassistance.gov.

NOTE: Performing Arts groups:

The federal legislation that controls eligibility had some limitations after 9/11, which the Chair of NYSCA, Richard Schwartz, was able to work with the Pataki administration to have lifted. This means that Performing Arts groups may be told they are ineligible. Please let us know if this happens to you.

NOTE: Individuals:

You may want to also go to register at NYC Communities for Change

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6245/p/salsa/web/common/public/signup?... They assist with tracking and follow-up with FEMA and may help individuals with the FEMA process.

Law Office of Sergio Munoz Sarmiento: Phone consultations free of charge to address questions pertaining to rights and possible compensation for damaged artwork or studios as a result of Hurricane Sandy. For more information: http://artlawoffice.com/2012/11/ny-artists-legal-information/.

RESIDENTS

As Lower Manhattan grappled with the devastation brought on by Hurricane Sandy, many low-income residents of the Lower East Side and Chinatown, particularly older or disabled individuals, were stuck in their homes with little to no access to food and water. A number of community partners are working with local residents to help them recover from the storm and damages incurred. Please visit their websites or contact their offices to find out how you can volunteer or how you can help directly support their efforts.

Two Bridges Neighborhood Council:

http://www.twobridges.org/2012-06-18-20-38-08/what-s-new/156-hurricane-s...

Emailing them at info@twobridges.org may be the easiest way to reach them for the time being.

CAAAV: Organizing Asian Communities:

http://caaav.org/

Good Old Lower East Side:

http://www.goles.org/

The Jewish Community Project is also organizing some volunteer efforts in Lower Manhattan. Email info@jcpdowntown.org to help or to request assistance.

The Lower East Side Recovers is a site coordinating needs, gives, and volunteer opportunities: https://lowereastside.recovers.org/

BUSINESSES

Many of the storefront businesses along the East River in the old Seaport and in the Financial District were severely damaged in the storm, including many small and local businesses and restaurants. Their path to recovery is just beginning and they too will likely require assistance--skilled or unskilled expertise. Consider volunteering to assist these businesses as they work to clean up and re-open.

NYC Service is coordinating some volunteer efforts: http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycservice/home.html

New York City's Public Advocate is also coordinating volunteer efforts: http://pubadvocate.nyc.gov

Make a donation to The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. One hundred percent of donations will be dispersed directly to relief efforts and organizations. Donations can be made online at www.nyc.gov/fund and checks can also be made out to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City with Hurricane Sandy in the memo line and sent to: Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City, 253 Broadway, 8th Floor, NYC, NY 10007. For any further information please call 212-788-7794.

and

from NYFA, www.nyfa.org

If you have suffered losses of any kind as a result of the storm, please take a few moments to fill out this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HurricaneSandyRecovery. It will be vital in our efforts to communicate your needs to funders, elected officials, the media and other interested parties.

If you had an event cancelled due to the storm, we are happy to offer you a free event listing in NYFA Classifieds through the end of the year. Simply send the information to: joblist@nyfa.org ATTN: Michon.

NYFA's offices at 20 Jay Street (suite 740) in DUMBO are open and we encourage you to come by for free coffee and refreshments. If you are without power you can use computers, Wi-Fi and recharge your cell phones or just spend some time talking to other artists.

We have an updated list of emergency resources on the home page of NYFA's website at www.nyfa.org.

In the next weeks, we will be scheduling a series of workshops on topics related to emergency recovery such as legal issues, assessing the value of your work and other insurance questions. As soon as these are confirmed, we will get a schedule out to you.

Finally, NYFA will be working closely with CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund + Artists' Emergency Resources), the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response, as well as funders and government agencies to determine the most effective ways to provide coordinated support efforts.

Please know that NYFA is here for you; contact me or any staff member with questions, concerns, ideas or problems. The work you create is vital to helping us all cope in difficult times and, for those of you now going through difficult times of your own, I want you to have my personal assurance that NYFA will do whatever we can to help you.

Best wishes, Michael Royce, Executive Director