Stepping Up Support For Local Artists Rose Eason

Stepping Up Support for Local Artists

By Rose Eason

The negative economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are far-reaching and wide-ranging, and the arts industry certainly has not been spared. Indeed, as the public health crisis extends into the summer, the economic crisis is only exacerbated.

The Americans for the Arts estimates the total economic loss to artists, arts organizations and arts agencies nationally to be $6.7 billion to date. This translates into real hardships for our community. According to an ongoing survey conducted by gallupARTS, Gallup area artists reported loosing an average of $1,200 per month in income due to the pandemic in April. In May, that figure rose to $2,090 per month. Artists are suffering from lost sales opportunities, lost teaching and performing opportunities, and other lost earning opportunities. Given that one in four McKinley County residents make at least part of their living through the arts, when the regional creative economy suffers, so do families.

In March, gallupARTS took action to leverage its business model to provide maximum support to local artists. It waived dues for its nine member artists and its 20% commission for non-member exhibiting artists through at least September, re-structuring the Gallery as an entirely fee-free and commission-free space so that 100% of proceeds from sales go directly to artists. (ART123 Gallery is now open on a by-appointment basis. Find out more at www.galluparts.org/art123gallery or by following @ART123Gallery on Facebook). gallupARTS is also leveraging its large social media following to support online sales by local artists.

Moreover, in April, gallupARTS stepped up to the plate to fill the gap in emergency relief funding for Gallup area artists with the Local Artist Support Fund. Many of the financial aid opportunities available to New Mexico artists are restricted to those living in the Rio Grande corridor. Additionally, many of Gallup’s artist participate in the informal economy, and so are unable to take advantage of opportunities such Paycheck Protection Program loans. Another significant barrier is the digital divide—many local artists lack the technology and/or broadband to access online resources or pivot to online sales. The Local Artist Support Fund is a rapid response grant-making program tailored to the needs of the greater Gallup artistic community.

In April and May, the Fund raised $8,000 and was able to make 31 “mini-grants” to local artists from Zuni to Window Rock to Gallup to Tohatchi to Mariano Lake to Thoreau to Smith Lake whose bread and butter is selling at flea markets, southwest art markets and events like the monthly Gallup ArtsCrawl (all of which have been closed or cancelled). These grants are helping with living expenses such as rent, utilities bills, and baby formula. gallupARTS expects to be able to make another dozen or more grants in June, having raised another $4,000 at the time of this printing.

To learn more about the Local Artist Support Fund, donate or apply for a mini-grant, visit www.galluparts.org/ coronavirus-artist-support.

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