See Chicago Dance is here for you in these unprecedented times.
Anyone in the dance community (both members and non-members) should reach out to us at anytime for guidance, support, direction, or just to talk.
If you aren’t sure what to do, or what’s next for you or your organization, you are not alone, we are here to help however we can.
Email info@seechicagodance.com or call our offices at (312) 846-6357 and we will direct your call to a staff or board member that can help with your concerns.
Resources:
COVID-19 Arts Resources (last updated 03/04/2021)
On Vaccines
Cook County Community Vaccination Program: On this site, you can sign up for COVID-19 updates and find information about scheduling an appointment for when you become eligible.
COVID-19 Vaccine Phases and Planning in Chicago: From chicago.gov, Information and infographics explaining the COVID-19 vaccine roll out in Chicago.
Chicago COVID-19 Vaccination Finder: The City of Chicago has six Point of Dispensing (POD) sites. As of the week of January 25th, all POD appointments remain completely booked with health care workers who first became eligible under phase 1a. As more vaccine become available, a limited number of appointments will be available for those who are eligible under phase 1b. There are three ways Chicago residents can receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Review the options to find the best way for you.
United Center Vaccination Site: The United Center COVID-19 vaccination site will open on Tuesday, March 9th at 9am. However, you must have an appointment and there will be NO on-site registrations. Seniors 65+ will have exclusive registration access starting Thursday, March 4 at 8:30am through Sunday, March 7 at 4:00pm. Appointment registration will open to all eligible residents under phase 1b+ beginning Sunday, March 7 at 4:00pm.
Relief Funds and Grants
Threewalls Response + Relief Fund: In this inaugural round, Threewalls is prioritizing the fund for independent, recently laid off or furloughed arts administrators and curators who have urgent situations and are needing temporary financial support. Open to those residing within the Chicagoland area; with awarded applicants receiving a one-time unrestricted grant of $500. The application period for Response + Relief Fund will open on Friday, February 19th, and close on Friday, March 5th at 4PM CST. If there is funding still available after the application period has closed, the application portal will remain open until we have reached funding capacity.
Actors Fund Emergency Assistance: Services include emergency financial assistance, affordable housing, health care and insurance counseling, senior care, secondary career development and more. The Actors Fund helps everyone who works in performing arts and entertainment including theater, film, television, music and dance. TAF is currently accepting applications for emergency assistance, applications take about 2 weeks to process.
Arts for Illinois Relief Fund: A collaboration between the City of Chicago, the State of Illinois, and private philanthropy to support the arts community during the COVID-19 crisis. Currently accepting donations to the relief fund, check back for updates regarding applications.
Free Marketing and Micro-Grants for Artists: Jovan Johnson is offering free marketing support and monthly micro-grants of $100, each for different groups: Artist marketing support plus micro-grant, Black or Minority business marketing support plus micro-grant, women-owned business marketing support plus micro-grant. All are a combination of marketing support and micro-grant. While there is not currently a cap on the number of monthly marketing grantees, there is currently (1) $100 micro-grant each month per program. Marketing assistance will continue indefinitely. No fees are required of applicants.
Frequently Updated Resource Lists
Dance in Chicago 2021: A list of opportunities and resources for Chicago's dance artists, on behalf of the peer producing organizations (Chicago Dancemakers Forum, Chicago Dancers United, The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, Harris Theater for Music and Dance, High Concept Labs, Links Hall, Museum of Contemporary Arts Chicago, Pivot Arts, and See Chicago Dance
Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations: The National Endowment for the Arts has compiled a list of organizations who are providing frequently updated COVID news and resources for artists and arts organizations.
Dance/USA Resources Related to the Coronavirus: Dance/USA is working with the Performing Arts Alliance and ArtsReady to provide a number of resources regarding the impact of COVID-19 on our field. A good place to go for a breakdown regrding the ever-changing laws and regulations surrounding COVID.
COVID-19 Freelance Artist Resources: An aggregated list of free resources, opportunities, and financial relief options available to artists of all disciplines. This list is specifically designed to serve freelance artists, and those interested in supporting the independent artist community. Last updated September 2020.
Association of Performing Arts Professionals: APAP is monitoring the spread and impact of the Coronavirus on a daily basis and working with other field leadership organizations to gather information, share resources, and advocate for the field.
Employment and Legal Advice
Unemployment Benefits Finder: Database of unemployment filing info based on geographic location, including updates on COVID-19 amendments
Candor Hiring Freeze List: Live crowdsourced document lists all the companies who are actively hiring versus on hiring freezes. Please note this isn’t specific to the arts and entertainment industry but does have a number of creative industry employers on it.
Lawyers for the Creative Arts Brief Service Response Center: Provides general advice by telephone on issues relating to cancellations. The Response Center is open for individual artists and managers of arts organizations affected by the Coronavirus crisis.
How PPP Forgiveness Can Turn a Loan Into a Grant: The Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan fund is officially tapped out (for now), but if you were able to secure a loan through this program for your freelance business, it is important to know how forgiveness of this loan will work on your 2020 tax return.
4 Secrets That Will Improve Your Employment Prospects: Tips on finding your next career path.
Springboard for the Arts: Principles for an ethical cancellation.
So You Want To Start A Relief Fund: A quick pdf guide on how to start and manage an emergency relief fund, from Springboard for the Arts.
Other Resources
SCD's 2020 Dance Health Month: Featured articles, online classes, and virtual workshops focusing on all aspects of dancer health.
Panel: Artists In a Time of Global Pandemic (ASL & Captioned): (Monday March 16, 2020) HowlRound plus a group of US artists, arts administrators, and others discuss how COVID-19 is impacting freelance artists (those who identify as independent contractors) from all disciplines, and where artists can look for support in this complicated moment.
Grants/Fellowships
Artsearch: The essential search for careers in the arts.
Forefront: The premier resource for networking and education, information and knowledge, and leadership and advocacy on behalf of philanthropy and nonprofits in Illinois.
Foundation Center: An online database (both free and with subscription) that allows grant searches by state, funding focus, etc.
Health
Day of Dancer Health 2019: Online resource for information in connection with See Chicago Dance's Day of Dancer Health 2019, including handouts on anxiety, sleep hygeine, basic nutrition tips, and a master exercise guide. Day of Dancer Health, a health & wellness community event for professional dancers, was developed by Dance/USA's Task Force on Dancer Health. 2019 Sponors include Chicago Dancers United - Dance for Life and The Drucker Center - The Menomonee Club for Boys and Girls.
The Dancer’s Fund: The Dancers’ Fund provides financial assistance (grants) to dance community professionals dealing with critical health issues creating a significant financial, emergency, or catastrophic hardship. Although this program was created in response to the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on the dance community, our mission has now broadened. The fund offers assistance in, but not limited to, the following areas: housing, utilities, insurance, medication and travel.
Designed to help qualified individuals meet their financial obligations while dealing with their health issues, The Dancers’ Fund is available to Chicago-based, professionally trained working dancers and those whose primary source of income is derived by serving the dance community. This includes, but is not limited to: dancers in a professional dance company, choreographers, dance company full-time administration/production/technical personnel, full-time dance instructors, freelance dancers, musical theatre chorus dancers, and full-time class/rehearsal piano accompanists.
UIC Health and the Arts Program: Diagnosing, treating and preventing arts-related disorders among people working in all aspects of the arts.
The Dancers’ Resource: Recognizing that the situations faced by injured dancers are all-encompassing in terms of both life and career, the program was started to create a support system that addresses the needs of dancers.
Service Organizations
Arts & Business Council of Chicago: A&BC-Chicago supports arts groups by strengthening the management of their organizations through educational programs like workshops and forums, and business services linking the for-profit sector.
Chicago Artist Resource: Offers comprehensive resources for dancers’ professional development and frequently updated directories of local opportunities and facilities.
Dance/USA: Dance/USA sponsors council meetings for member artists and groups to meet and discuss current issues and trends in the field, to network in a peer-to-peer, collaborative environment.
Pentacle: Collaborating with performing artists to design and provide unique and robust programs of support at critical stages in their careers.
Fractured Atlas: Fractured Atlas empowers artists, arts organizations, and other cultural sector stakeholders by eliminating practical barriers to artistic expression, so as to foster a more agile and resilient cultural ecosystem.
Arts Alliance Illinois: Illinois leading voice for the cultural sector and creative industries. Through civic engagement, arts education, and cultural equity initiatives, they promote the value of the arts and give voice to a creative state.
Technology
TechSoup: Connecting your nonprofit, charity, or public library with technology products, plus the free learning resources you need to make informed decisions about technology.
Nonprofit Technology Network (NTEN): Membership organization of nonprofit technology professionals. Helps nonprofits use all aspects of technology more effectively with webinars, access to new research and industry reports and IT trainings.
Research:
"Mapping the Dance Landscape in Chicagoland" (2019): In 2002, Dance/USA published a groundbreaking study about Chicagoland’s dance community. Seventeen years later, Candid, Sustain Arts, and See Chicago Dance came together to update the data to reveal the opportunities and challenges facing dancers, dance organizations, and the sector as a whole.
"Public Funding for Art: Chicago Compared with 12 Peer Regions" (2014): Supported in part by Arts Alliance Illinois, and with the cooperation of several local arts agencies, including Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special events, and of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies.This study compares the direct public dollars received by organizations and artists in Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, Houston, Miami, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland (OR), San Diego, and San Francisco from 2002-2012.
"Building New Audiences for Dance" (2014): With support from the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, See Chicago Dance (formerly Audience Architects) retained CBWhite to enhance understanding of current dance patrons through a market research survey. The survey analyzes and investigates motivations and barriers to attendance for 1,400 dance ticket buyers in the Chicago area. The significant findings can help dance organizations tailor and target their marketing tactics and campaigns.
SMID Study Report (2005): Serving Dance in Chicago: A Planning Process for Small to Mid-sized Companies and Independent Artists.