FIELD GUIDE
Field Guide to Disaster Relief and Individual Artist Relief
Extreme weather and natural and human-generated disasters require artists, cultural workers, arts organizations, and arts-related businesses to be in an ongoing disaster preparedness and recovery state. Communities in every part of the country now have to prepare for and respond to emergencies by learning new skills and navigating potential sources of support.
FIELD GUIDE
The NCAPER Arts Field Guide to Federal Disaster Relief was created to help demystify federal disaster relief for the arts and culture sector. After a disaster, artists, arts organizations, and others working in arts, culture, and heritage face distinct issues and needs. The NCAPER Field Guide was created to help demystify federal disaster relief for the arts and culture sector by helping artists and arts organizations see what’s available, understand clearly what isn’t available, and decide if pursuing federal aid is a good use of time. The top programs of use to artists and arts organizations have been selected for inclusion. The Field Guide gives a snapshot of federal disaster assistance programs that can go into effect after a presidentially declared disaster and focuses on longstanding programs that are likely to continue. It includes in-depth information about financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), along with introductory information about other federal resources that provide a mixture of financial and other assistance.
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Available for download
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Available for purchase
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INDIVIDUAL ARTIST ASSISTANCE
In 2024, FEMA updated its Individual Assistance to provide disaster relief funds to artists and other self-employed individuals whose tools of their trade have been lost or damaged in a federally-declared disaster. Thanks to our colleagues at HENTF/Heritage Emergency National Task Force for this user-friendly resource for artists, creatives, culture-bearers and other self-employed individuals. The Individual Assistance Quick Reference Guide for Self-Employed Applicants.
UPDATE: As of June, 2025 the Individual Assistance for self-employed individuals program is still active. Some of the programs listed in the Field Guide may have been changed or suspended. You/your organization should always apply for assistance if you believe you may be eligible, and appeal if you are denied.