top of page

Helene Relief

The following is a list of resources for artists and others to receive relief and aid following the destruction of Hurricane Helene. At the bottom is a list of organizations you can donate to. We will continue to add resources as we find them. If you would like to share resources, have questions, or need assistance with applications due to limited internet access please email us at inclusiveblacksmiths@gmail.com

​

Please feel free to share this information as widely as possible. A link to download this as a PDF is available below. 

AID FOR ARTISTS

​​

  • Craft Futures Fund 

https://www.centerforcraft.org/grants-and-fellowships/craft-futures-fund

$500 emergency relief grants for artists, reviewed on a weekly basis 

“This is a one-time unrestricted grant. There are no reporting requirements. Grantees should put the funds toward their area of greatest, immediate financial need.”

​

  • CERF+ emergency relief

https://cerfplus.org/grants/emergency-relief/

For questions, contact programs@cerfplus.org or (802) 229-2306.

“If you are assisting an artist in an emergency situation, you may apply on their behalf provided you have their permission. Ensure the artist meets the eligibility criteria and gather all necessary contact information and materials required for the application.”

 

  • Temporary housing at Touchstone 

https://www.touchstonecrafts.org/

Or call 724-329-1370

 

  • Aid for Artists organized by Treats Studios 

https://www.treatsstudios.org/artist-support-helene

Add yourself to the network of artists in need 

 

  • National Coalition for Arts Preparedness: rapid damage assessment form for individual artists

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2HxSk2buhUL3Z4LnB8erNUFDTVhklXJbzyVLriOgmRh_Ulg/viewform

              This is not a FEMA form, but another organization assessing and offering aid for artists

 

  • Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grants program 

2025.https://www.scartshub.com/medical-financial-emergency-grant-opportunities-for-scartists/

one-time grants of up to $5,000 for recent, unexpected medical, dental, and mental health emergencies experienced by artists in financial need who are creating in the visual arts, film/video/electronic/digital arts, or choreography. 

Cycle 27 will be open October 29 – November 26 for emergencies occurring April 1, 2024 and after.

 

  • Artists Fellowship

https://www.artistsfellowship.org/financial_aid_application_new2024

“The Artists’ Fellowship provides one-time emergency aid to professional visual artists and their families in times of sickness, natural disaster, bereavement, or unexpected extreme hardship.”

“If you are unable to fill out an application online, contact the office by email at info@artistfellowship.org

 

  • Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant program

https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/emergency-grant

“intended to provide interim financial assistance to qualified painters, printmakers, and sculptors whose needs are the result of an unforeseen, catastrophic incident, and who lack the resources to meet that situation.” 

Up to $15000, generally around $5000 

No deadline 

 

OTHER AID (new resources at top of list) 

 

  • Guide to applying for aid, by National Coalition of Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response 

https://www.ncaper.org/ncaperfieldguide

“...snapshot of federal disaster assistance programs that can go into effect after a presidentially declared disaster…includes in-depth information about financial assistance from (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA), along with introductory information about other federal resources that provide a mixture of financial and other assistance.”

This is a long and detailed guide that you have to download. It should be useful as you think about long term recovery and are ready to fill out lots of forms

​

  • Google sheet with aid for all areas affected, organized by city or county and state

Helene Recovery Resources

Some resources are governmental, some are local businesses or other groups. Types of resources include food and shelter, physical help, medicine, legal, etc. If you have resources to offer there is a form to submit them

​

  • FEMA disaster aid application

https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

 

  • FEMA Individuals and households program (IHP)

https://www.fema.gov/assistance/individual/program

“financial and direct services to eligible individuals and households affected by a disaster, who have uninsured or under-insured necessary expenses and serious needs.”

Supplement to general FEMA aid 

Funds for temporary housing while you are unable to live in your home, such as rental assistance or reimbursement for hotel costs

Funds to support the repair or replacement of owner-occupied homes  that serve as the household’s primary residence, including privately-owned access routes, such as driveways, roads, or bridges

A temporary housing unit, if approved for the disaster, when you are not able to use rental assistance due to a lack of available housing resources

Funds for hazard mitigation assistance to help eligible homeowners repair or rebuild stronger, more durable homes

Funds for other uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs

​

  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Assistance finding housing 

nationwide network of housing counseling agencies (HCAs) and certified counselors

HUD-participating HCAs are approved and trained to provide tools to current and prospective homeowners and renters so they can make responsible choices to address their housing needs considering their financial situations.

​
 

DONATE/PROVIDE AID (new resources at top of list) 

​

  • Torched AVL gallery 

https://torchedavl.com/

“Inclusive community art space teaching a variety of classes for all skill levels, with a retail gallery of handmade fine art.”

Based In Asheville NC, many of their artists are NC based and were affected by Helene

Confirmed NC based artists (there may be other artists that we missed whose information was not readily available): 

  • ​Hew Jewelry 

  • Red Metal 

  • Gillian Maurer

  • Ratbee Press

  • Amanda N. Simons

  • Elizabeth Walton

  • Darcy’s Daydreams

  • Fruit Boots

  • Ashcraft Glass

  • Urban Earth Ceramics

  • Katy Elmore

  • Iron Maiden Studios

  • Phlox

  • Erin Kellem

  • Riverbird Printworks

  • Rêvencial

  • Nora McMullen

  • Meredith Tibjash 

​

  • Google sheet with ways to help in the WNC area 

WNC Helene - Ways to Give/Volunteer

You can look for ways to assist by type of support (volunteer or financial), what specifically is needed, etc. Every entry has a source, a contact, and a description of the need 

​​

  • CERF+

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/craft-emergency-relief-fund-inc

Mission: serve craft artists by supporting strong and sustainable careers through our core values of education, advocacy, emergency relief, and readiness

“only national organization focused on the readiness, relief, and recovery of craft artists”

 

  • World Central Kitchen 

https://donate.wck.org/give/622465/#!/donation/checkout

Immediate assistance/food relief

Mission:“providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. When disaster strikes, WCK’s Chef Relief Team mobilizes to the frontlines with the urgency of now to start cooking and provide meals to people in need”

“responding to communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Multiple WCK food truck partners and our new Rapid Response Field Kitchen were pre-positioned to provide hot meals quickly after the storm had passed. We're currently responding in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee”

 

  • Appalatia funders network 

https://www.appalachiafunders.org/

“The Appalachia Funders Network creates catalytic opportunities for funders to collaborate, connect, and drive progress”

Donate directly, or list of mutual aid networks 

 

  • Penland 

https://fundraise.givesmart.com/form/On4MXA?vid=1803f7

Well known craft school in North Carolina, sheltered teachers, students, and community members during the storm 

Still serving as a community center for aid and internet access 

Currently closed, no fall classes 

Donation will help keep teachers and staff paid and school running while it is closed 

 

  • Aid for Artists organized by Treats Studios 

https://www.treatsstudios.org/artist-support-helene

Treats studios is a building owned and run by a group of artists in Spruce Pine NC, they started Aid For Artists after Helene to provide community support to affected artists

Links to donate to or buy from artists affected by Helene

 

  • Beloved Asheville 

https://belovedasheville.com/get-involved/

“BeLoved Asheville is deeply committed to supporting our community during this time of crisis. In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, we are dedicating all our resources to providing essential aid to those affected.”

 

  • North Carolina Disaster relief fund 

https://www.nc.gov/disaster-relief-fund-faqs

State government fund 

​

  • Raffle hosted by Anna Koplick

https://www.instagram.com/arkoplik/

Money will be donated to one of three organizations of the winners choice.

bottom of page