How You Can Apply For a Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Music Relief Grant
Image: NAParish via Flickr
The Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is of course an online livestream this year, a scaled-down, three hour affair happening Saturday, October 3, from 2-5 p.m. PT. (Though you can still make it a three-day watch party with their 20 years of archived shows.) But the festival is also giving back to the community with the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Music Relief Fund, a partnership with Artist Relief that “offers financial resources to musicians across the country, with rapid emergency grants of $5,000. These grants help people in our communities keep putting food on their table, pay their healthcare bills, fill up gas in their van and keep a roof over their heads.”
More behind the scenes action from our upcoming broadcast, "Let The Music Play On". Tune in this Saturday to see real thing!
Saturday, Oct. 3rd 2pm PST / 5pm EST
More info at https://t.co/imKS7Hkjgg pic.twitter.com/Y0XHu8gIaI— Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (@HSBFest) September 28, 2020
The original idea was that HSB would give out $1.5 million in grants, exclusively to musicians in grants of $2,000 a pop, as they announced in July. That money ran out immediately! But they have started a new grant partnership with Artists Relief that is now $2.3 million and counting (and you can add to that total by donating), and it’s open to all artists for grants as large as $5,000.
Looking forward to this year’s @HSBFest! Don’t miss “Let the Music Play On”, a one-time broadcast on October 3, from 2-5pm PT. Watch from home at https://t.co/hlKofQZNu0, https://t.co/wNU2U9Z7iS or on Facebook #LettheMusicPlayOn #HardlyStrictlyBluegrass #HSB2020 pic.twitter.com/JfxvSEC4Wo
— Fantastic Negrito (@MusicNegrito) September 29, 2020
Here is the HSB-Artist Relief grant application. They’re taking applications well past the conclusion of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2020, all the way until 11:59pm ET (8:59 PT) on October 21st. That said, they’re being pretty choosy.
#LettheMusicPlayOn @HSBFest We’ll (w/ @outsidechild13 @Nailbiter16 ) be sharing a special performance so make sure to tune October 3, 2-5pm PT at https://t.co/jPXkepWGps, https://t.co/omahz8XC38 or on Facebook at https://t.co/jewwjRQHHi #HardlyStrictlyBluegrass #HSB2020 pic.twitter.com/CofYMxKK9m
— birdsofchicago (@birdsofchicago) September 29, 2020
“We ask that applicants self-evaluate whether they are experiencing dire financial emergencies during this time and make space for those most urgently in need,” says the Artist Relief application. “Due to the unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, we define ‘dire financial emergencies’ as the lack or imminent endangerment of essentials such as housing, medicine, childcare, and food. We are aware that each artist’s needs differ, so ask that you thoroughly and accurately describe your situation. Applicants should demonstrate a pressing and critical need for emergency support to be considered for this grant.”
Watch “Let The Music Play On”! Tune in as we share new performances by our treasured regulars and welcome some first time artists with footage from their hometowns and favorite venues. Don’t miss our one-time broadcast October 3, from 2-5pm PT, 5-8pm ET.https://t.co/hoh2PubERT pic.twitter.com/cFCIL0G7MF
— Hardly Strictly Bluegrass (@HSBFest) September 22, 2020
Again, this is NOT the same as the Hardly Strictly Music Relief Fund: Bay Area that they did with the Alliance for California Traditional Arts and Center for Cultural Innovation , whose $1.5 million has already been allotted. That funding will be announced in October.
But the Artists Relief grant is still jamming away! You can apply for a grant here, or donate to the grant fund here.
You Might Also Like
