Storm Relief Funds for San Francisco Artists and Arts Organizations Now Available To Assist With Recent Flood Related Damage

Applications for Flood Damage Assistance Will Be Accepted until 12:00 p.m., March 1, 2023

San Francisco Arts Storm Relief Fund

SAN FRANCISCO, FEBRUARY 10, 2023 - The San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) and Grants for the Arts (GFTA) are pleased to announce the availability of a storm relief fund program to provide financial support for San Francisco artists and arts organizations.

The Arts Storm Relief Fund program will provide grants up to $2,500 for San Francisco based artists or up to $5,000 to San Francisco based arts and culture nonprofit organizations and fiscally sponsored entities and artists who incurred damage to their property from the 2022-2023 winter storms. Damages must have occurred on or after December 27, 2022.

"The San Francisco Arts Commission and Grants for the Arts are working closely together to support our local artists and arts organizations,” said Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs. "We are committed to providing the support they need to recover and rebuild with help and support from the Arts Storm Relief Fund."

This fund is part of the flood relief programs announced by Mayor London Breed last month to support residents, business and communities facing flood damage in San Francisco.

Recipients may use grant funds to address damages resulting from winter storm flooding. Damages from power outages and wind related incidents are NOT eligible. 

Organizations receiving funds from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) Flood Damage program are ineligible to receive funds from this Fund.  

The San Francisco Arts Storm Relief Fund applications are available via Google Forms at bit.ly/sfartsstormfund in San Francisco’s core languages of:

English

Spanish

Chinese

Filipino

A free Google account is required to complete the application form. Applications will be accepted until 12 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, 2023.

SFAC and GFTA encourages those eligible who have been affected by flood damage to apply for assistance as soon as possible and to not wait until the deadline. Staff will review and determine eligible grant amounts for submitted applications. SFAC and GFTA ask that applicants only apply for what they need as staff anticipate greater demand than funds available. Applicants will be required to show proof of significant damages and will be asked to upload photos or other documentation.

Eligibility to receive assistance from The Arts Storm Relief Fund are as follows:

Individual Artists:

  • The applicant must be a continuous resident of San Francisco since November 2020
  • The applicant must be at least 18 years old
  • The applicant cannot be enrolled as a full-time student
  • All applicants must provide photos of the significant damage of their property (equipment, fixtures, artwork, etc.). Include photos from several angles.
  • We may request additional photos or a contractor bid with the explanation of damages.

Organizations:

  • If your application is funded, your organization must be in good standing with the Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and California agencies, to confirm your good standing please visit the following websites. Upon award of funds, you may be asked to provide documentation.
  1. IRS
  2. California Franchise Tax Board
  3. California Secretary of State
  4. California Attorney General
  • The applicant organization’s mission statement must be clearly focused on the development, production, presentation and/or support of arts activities and/or youth arts activities in San Francisco.
  • The applicant organization must have a physical location in San Francisco with demonstrated damage to your property.
  • The organization’s annual operating revenue must NOT exceed $5,000,000

For more information on the Flood Damage Arts Assistance Fund and how to apply, please visit sfartscommission.org, sfgfta.org, email art-info@sfgov.org or call (415) 252-2266.

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About the San Francisco Arts Commission
The San Francisco Arts Commission is the City agency that champions the arts as essential to daily life by investing in a vibrant arts community, enlivening the urban environment and shaping innovative cultural policy. Our programs include: Civic Art Collection, Civic Design Review, Community Investments, Public Art, SFAC Galleries, and Art Vendor Licensing. To learn more, visit sfartscommission.org.

About Grants for the Arts
Grants for the Arts (GFTA), a division of the City and County of San Francisco’s City Administrator’s Office, strives to be a stable, dependable resource for nonprofits arts and culture organizations who successfully meet funding criteria, and is committed to supporting the full spectrum of arts and culture in San Francisco. GFTA’s mission is to promote the diverse and unique communities of San Francisco by supporting the arts through equitable grantmaking. To learn more, visit sfgfta.org.

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