20 20 IMPACT REPORT Demond Melancon, Big Chief of the Young Seminole Hunters – 2020 COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipient, New Orleans, Louisiana, Photo courtesy of Christopher Porché West OUR MISSION A Letter from CERF+ Plan + Pivot + Partner CERF+’s mission is to serve artists who work in craft disciplines by providing a safety In the first two decades of the 21st century,CERF+ ’s safety net of services gradually net to support strong and sustainable careers. CERF+’s core services are education expanded to better meet artists’ needs in response to a series of unprecedented natural programs, resources on readiness, response and recovery, advocacy, network building, disasters. The tragic events of this past year — the pandemic, another spate of catastrophic and emergency relief assistance. natural disasters, as well as the societal emergency of racial injustice — have thrust us into a new era in which we have had to rethink our work. Paramount in this moment has been BOARD OF DIRECTORS expanding our definition of “emergency” and how we respond to artists in crises. Tanya Aguiñiga Don Friedlich Reed McMillan, Past Chair While we were able to sustain our longstanding relief services, we also faced new realities, which required different actions. Drawing from the lessons we learned from administering Jono Anzalone, Vice Chair John Haworth* Perry Price, Treasurer aid programs during and after major emergencies in the previous two decades, we knew Malene Barnett Cinda Holt, Chair Paul Sacaridiz that our efforts would entail both a sprint and a marathon, requiring us to plan, pivot, Barry Bergey Ande Maricich* Jaime Suárez and partner. Robert Booker Wendy Maruyama Patricia Young Dr. Allison Druin, Secretary WE PLANNED by identifying and putting into motion immediate, mid-range, and *Completed Board Service in 2020 long-term actions to help artists sustain their livelihoods. WE PIVOTED by expanding our relief assistance to address financial hardship (related STAFF to housing, food, or health insecurities) by creating multiple cycles of CERF+’s COVID-19 Relief Grant program and making support of underserved communities a Cameron Baxter Lewis Cornelia Carey James Hafferman priority. 68% of our COVID-19 grantees were Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Director of Emergency Relief Executive Director Deputy Director 83% were first-time grantees. & Recovery Services WE PARTNERED by joining other arts advocates to ensure that the various federal Dustin Byerly Carrie Cleveland Kim Sudol relief packages addressed the unique needs of artists, so that they could access Director of Development Director of Education Administration Manager programs like Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) and the Paycheck Protection & Communications & Outreach Program (PPP). Most importantly, we leaned heavily on our community for support, and you came through with record generosity. Because of you, the safety net for artists grew, and we were able to provide 815 artists with over $1.2 million in direct relief assistance and thousands more with resources, information, and advocacy. CERF+ is part of a cultural landscape now in transformation across the country. We hope that this impact report demonstrates our steadfast commitment to continuing our leadership as an artist advocate and a go-to resource for artists’ emergency readiness, response, and recovery. With our deepest gratitude, CERF+ – Staff and Board of Directors, Center Cornelia Carey Cinda Holt for Contemporary Craft, Houston, Texas Executive Director Chair, CERF+ Board of Directors 1 2 2020 At-A-Glance The Four Pillars of CERF+’s Work are Types of Assistance Distributed Relief, Education, Advocacy, and Recovery In-Kindness Field Partnership $11,824 with Artist Relief General Emergency $250,000 1% Relief Assistance Get Ready 19% $425,824 RELIEF: 33% Types of Emergencies Grants 2% $1,293,186 IN TOTAL ASSISTANCE Artists Experienced $20,538 TO 815 ARTISTS from 46 States, 3 45% U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia. Where Do Our Grant COVID-19 585 Recipients Live? COVID-19 Relief Grants $585,000 Illness 40 EDUCATION: 15 5,250+ artists, arts professionals, and 5 representatives of government and 4 4 community agencies attended CERF+’s 21 Injury/Accident 22 16 2 national, regional, and local workshops 3 53 15 and presentations. 5 23 1 2 13 2 10 23 4 Natural Disaster 50 11 2 4 4 1 7 5 17 4 ADVOCACY: 10 10 69 Raising awareness about the 5 needs of artists before, during, and Studio Fire 12 24 7 after disasters with policy-makers, 7 politicians, and other decision-makers. 19 34 2 Theft 9 3 13 7 29 17 RECOVERY: Other 5 11 30 815 artists are on the road to recovery as a result of the financial assistance 5 that they received from CERF+. PUERTO RICO VIRGIN iSLANDS 158 2 3 4 COVID-19 Relief “The help from CERF+ was a ray of light in the difficult In response to the financial emergencies that artists experienced due to the period of the lockdown.” pandemic, CERF+ created an expedited COVID-19 Relief Grant Program to Carolina Sardi – Sculptor, 2020 provide immediate relief to artists facing dire circumstances involving food, COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipient, housing, and medical insecurities. Miami, Florida In the first two cycles of CERF+’s COVID-19 Relief Grants, 585 artists in 46 states, 3 U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia received a total of $585,000 (note: at the time of this publication, CERF+ has completed a third relief cycle and is currently raising funds for a fourth cycle). Understanding that COVID-19 was disproportionately impacting communities that are typically underserved by grantmakers, CERF+ prioritized artists who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, as well as folk and traditional artists. Artist Relief In September 2020, CERF+ became a Field Partner to Artist Relief, a national initiative created by a coalition of national arts grantmakers who came together to offer financial relief for artists impacted by COVID-19. As a Field Partner, we have lent our expertise, supported the overall development and refinement of the program and, thanks to an anonymous donor, invested directly into the relief fund, which as of December 2020, had distributed $1,750,000 to 350 craft artists. “It was such a dark time for us. No one knew what to do. Everything stopped. The grant from CERF+ allowed us to start moving forward again. Having someone reach out to offer support and knowing that there was someone out there that cared made all the difference in the world.” Andrew McCall – Basketry / Furniture - 2020 COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipient, Letohatchee, Alabama 5 6 “Getting help from someone in an emergency, especially as an artist, can make a world of difference in whether you are going to make it or not.” Kevin Pourier – Oglala Lakota Buffalo Horn Artist, 2020 COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipient, Pine Ridge Reservation, Scenic, South Dakota “The support from CERF+ arrived as a human hug on a cold night, a tender precise moment like a northern wind breathes to keep the wheel moving.” Hernan Paganini – Sculptor, 2020 COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipient, “The CERF+ Emergency Grant Seattle, Washington, gave me hope when I felt like Photo courtesy of I was in a perpetually hopeless Andrew Giammarco and isolating situation.” Wafa Ghnaim – Embroidery, 2020 COVID-19 Relief Grant Recipient, Arlington, Virginia, Photo courtesy of Carlos Khalil Guzman 7 8 CERF+’s General Emergency Relief Program COVID-19 aside, 2020 was a historic year at CERF+. From earthquakes in Puerto Rico to historic wildfires in California and elsewhere in the West, this was a year like no other. Unfortunately, artists also faced personal emergencies such as home/studio fires, illness, theft, and injury. CERF+’s general emergency relief program provided $425,824 in financial assistance to138 artists, an increase of 145% from 2019. “I am and will continue to be very grateful for the help received. It was fundamental in the process of “The wildfires that tore through the Santa repairing my workshop after the Cruz Mountains took my livelihood, my earthquakes in Puerto Rico.” letterpress, print shop, and my home. The grant from CERF+ has contributed immensely Franklin Graulau – Ceramic Artist, to helping Moving Parts Press rise from Hurricane Maria/Earthquakes, Ponce, the ashes.” Puerto Rico Felicia Rice – Book Artist, 2020 Wildfires, Mendocino, California, Photo courtesy of R. R. Jones 9 10 “I love my work and every day I strive to leave imprinted, on Support for Artists and Artisans in Puerto Rico a piece of wood, my heritage and our Puerto Rican culture. I thank CERF+ for their With generous support from GlobalGiving, the Flamboyan Arts Fund, and individual unconditional support to donors, CERF+ has remained committed to the ongoing recovery of artists and artisans in artists because they promote Puerto Rico who were impacted by Hurricane Maria. Since 2017, CERF+ has supported 366 our art in hard times.” artists in Puerto Rico with $669,000 in grant assistance and donated equipment and materials. José Luis Peña-Burgos – Wood Artist, Hurricane Maria, Orocovis, Puerto Rico, Photo courtesy of the In February 2020, CERF+ and the Flamboyan Arts Fund formalized a Commitment to Flamboyan Arts Fund Action during a Clinton Global Initiative Action Network on Post Disaster Recovery in the Caribbean meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which has resulted in an additional $243,000 in emergency assistance to 158 Puerto Rican artists in 2020. “Hurricane Maria was rough. We lost power. Food was scarce. Maria destroyed and wrecked my tools. CERF+’s