Many of our region’s artists depend on gatherings for their income, be it concerts, fairs, festivals or galleries. Now, with widespread COVID-19-driven closings and cancellations, those artists are struggling with huge financial losses.

This is made worse by bad timing; winter in Northern Michigan is a slow time for the arts, and many local artists were running on fumes, waiting for spring gigs to refill their coffers. Now those gigs have been cancelled.

Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology, whose Artist Emergency Fund has supported 40 artists with $20,000 in funding since March 13, is expanding their fund to include artists in Emmet and Charlevoix counties. The funding was originally available to artists in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska and Leelanau counties, and now, thanks to the Urgent Needs funds at the Charlevoix County Community Foundation and the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation, the funding footprint has spread.

“In times of uncertainty, the arts are more important than ever,” said Amanda Kik, co-founder and co-director of Crosshatch. “As we reach for the songs, books, poems, television shows and movies that help us in this difficult time, we can also be sure to support the artists that have created all this great work.” Crosshatch will distribute funding as long as there is a need, and funds to disburse. Individuals can support the fund online at www.crosshatch.org/emergency.

The fund does not just support musicians; any artist impacted by COVID-19 cancellations can apply. The application is short and simple, and available online at www.crosshatch.org/emergency. Artists are eligible if they earn 33% or more of their income from their art, have lost income because of the COVID-19 crisis, and live in one of the seven designated counties. Requests may be made for up to $500 and are disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis.