File photo/ Renee Cordes
Dinah Minot, executive director of Creative Portland, at the organization's Free Street headquarters.
Updated: May 4, 2020
Creative Portland raises $75K for local artists hit by crisis
Courtesy / Creative Portland
"Hear Here 2020," a high-energy live show produced by Creative Portland in January, showcased local artists performing at Merrill Auditorium in Portland.
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Creative Portland, the city's nonprofit arts agency, has been trying to help local artists make ends meet during the pandemic through a relief fund — and expects to send the first checks out this week after raising more than $75,000.
"There has been a tremendous outpouring of support," Executive Director Dinah Minot told Mainebiz, after the group exceeded its original $50,000 fundraising target.
The Portland Artist Relief Fund, established in March, aims to help local artists unable to earn an income during the COVID-19 crisis.
Many are self-employed and have no income to buy groceries and prescriptions, according to Creative Portland, which is keeping the fund open and seeking additional donations.
Minot, a former "Saturday Night Live" talent scout and film industry dynamo who has led Creative Portland since October 2016, said that after the grassroots effort raised the original target amount "drop by drop," something unexpected happened: "An angel flew in and delivered another $25,000."
She said there were more than 200 individual contributions ranging from $5 to $25,000, adding that "new donors that we've never heard of contributed to the pot. It's a remarkable time feeling the community come together, like a scene out of 'It's a Wonderful Life.' We were so moved by the hundreds who have contributed to the Portland Artist Relief Fund."
After applications from artists are reviewed by a committee of arts community leaders and stakeholders with representatives from Creative Portland Indigo Arts Alliance, Running With Scissors, SPACE Gallery and The Storyboard this week, Creative Portland staff and volunteers will process applications and send out the first payments.
Every member of the review committee has donated personally to the fund, Minot said.
She estimated that at least 50 checks will go out to local artists in the first batch of the fund allocation. Stipends will be $500 each.
In addition, she said, several artists who applied for emergency relief will now be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance as well as the Maine Artist Relief Fund, set up by the Maine Arts Commission.
As fundraising for the Portland Artist Relief Fund continues, Minot estimates that phase two of disbursement will begin later this summer, with another set of stipends expected to be administered in August or September.
"Unfortunately, artists in the gig economy will be impacted for a quite a while," she said.
Encouraging further donations, Minot underscored that 100% of the amount raised will go directly to artists and relief efforts on their part.
"When we emerge from this," she added, "it will be a wonderful feeling for all the donors to know that they helped contribute to the bucket to honor the local artists and to hold them dear."
Photo / Renee Cordes
Located in Portland's East Bayside neighborhood, Running With Scissors serves as a dedicated workspace for more than 75 artists who share equipment, ideas, tools and support.
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