GrubStreet Community Resources for Covid-19 

Last updated: 3/27/20

So many of us need help and support during this uncertain time. And we’re hearing from others who want to know how to help. The spirit of togetherness we’re seeing from our community is inspiring. We’re sharing a few resources for writers and artists here. And we’re also sharing opportunities (for those who can) to support writers, the writing ecosystem, and the arts in Boston. We’ll be updating this list as we learn of new resources and opportunities.   

Writer Resources

• Artists In a Time of Global Pandemic (ASL & Captioned), Webinar recording hosted by HowlRound.
• Emergency Funds for Writers — PEN America’s listing of national and regional emergency grants available to writers in acute financial crisis.
• Boston Artist Relief Fund — The Boston Artist Relief Fund will award grants of $500 to individual artists who live in Boston whose creative practices and incomes are being adversely impacted by Covid-19. 
• The Authors League Fund — The Authors League Fund has helped professional authors, journalists, poets, and dramatists who find themselves in financial need because of medical or health-related problems, temporary loss of income, or other misfortune.
• Freelancers Relief Fund — Open to all freelancers in the U.S., the Freelancers Relief Fund will offer financial assistance of up to $1,000 per freelance household as a result of Covid-19 to cover lost income and essential expenses not covered by government relief programs. 
• Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts are waiving their service fee for artists with crises related to Covid-19.
• Covid-19 Freelance Artist Resources — This list is specifically designed to serve freelance artists, and those interested in supporting the independent artist community. 
• Mass Cultural Council Covid-19 Resources — Information, updates, and resources from the Mass Cultural Council. 
• GrubStreet scholarships available and more info on remote options for Write Down the Street and our Young Adult Writers Program. 

Ways to Support 

• Support Muse 2020 presenting authors — You can purchase books by Muse 2020 presenting authors via the Muse Online Book Store. The sales go entirely to Porter Square Books and they're offering 10% off to all Muse-goers through the end of April. Just use the code MUSE2020 at checkout. 
• Support Authors Launching Books During Covid-19 — A MIGHTY BLAZE is a way to bring book launches during this period to readers. Every Tuesday, authors publishing on that date can introduce their books and readers can come see new releases. 
• Support GrubStreet’s Literary Partners — Learn more about supporting our partners MassPoetry and Porter Square Books. 
• Support Arts Administrators of Color Network — Support a relief fund for (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) artists and administrators (consultants, facilitators, box office staff, seasonal/temporary employees, etc.) 
• Support GrubStreet — Click here to read about our special $200,000 community access fund to help GrubStreet weather this period of uncertainty and meet the needs of our community. 

Stigma & Discrimination Prevention 

There has been an uptick in xenophobia, especially around Asian Americans, as a result of the fears of the coronavirus. Here are a few resources to help reduce fear-based communication disparaging any groups of people. 

• Centers  for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Reducing Stigma
• Washington State Department of Health — Tips for Stigma and Discrimination Reduction
• National Association of School Psychologists — Countering Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Stigma and Racism: Tips for Parents and Caregivers

For more general info and updates about Covid-19, you can also sign up for the CDC’s email updates here and for the WHO's email updates here. For more general info for residents of Boston and greater Boston, click here.   

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