COVID-19 Resources and Brief Service Response Center

The economic effects of business closures are taking a harsh toll on the performing arts community. Lawyers for the Creative Arts is committed to helping the Illinois art community understand the legal issues arising from performance cancellations.

We've set up our Office Hours to provide general advice by telephone on issues relating to cancellations. The Response Center is open for individual artists and managers of arts organizations affected by the Coronavirus crisis. The application form is short, and we will attempt to respond to you in a timely manner. We ask that you please be patient as we work through the requests.

For those needing representation by an attorney for any arts-related matter, please continue to use our normal Legal Referral Service, which remains fully operational. Additionally, LCA's Patricia Felch Arts Mediation Services are ready and able to provide neutral mediators to assist with all kinds of arts disputes.

If you live outside of Illinois, you may want to contact the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts organization in your state. A list of these organizations can be found here.


Coronavirus Resource List

This list gives those in the arts community access to sites and services that may be of assistance in navigating the challenges created by the Coronavirus pandemic.  Please refer back to it periodically for new or supplemented entries.

 

Resources You May Need Now

Resources for Reopening Arts Organizations

Restore Illinois - Illinois Government Guidance

  • Information and guidance for businesses during Phase 5 of the Restore Illinois plan.

Be Safe Chicago - Reopening Guidelines

  • Information and guidance for businesses during Phase 5 of the Be Safe Chicago plan.

Curtains Up! Legal Issues for Re-Opening Venues

 

Discussions of Available Resources

Unemployment Relief and Related Benefits

Rent and Mortgage Assistance

Short-Term Estate Planning: Powers of Attorney - Health Care and Property

  • Information on estate planning in a pandemic - specific coverage of the two statutory powers of attorney.

 

Assistance with State Unemployment Benefits
     (Please be patient in case of high call volume)

CARPLS

  • Call (312) 738-9200

Legal Aid Chicago

  • Call (312) 341-1070

 

Federal and State Financial Relief Programs

Paycheck Protection Program (SBA)

Local Banks Serving PPP Loan Applicants

COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Application

 

 

Additional Resources and Assistance

Private Assistance

Artist Relief

  • Fund created by small to mid-sized national arts grantmakers
  • $5,000 grants available to artists facing dire financial emergencies due to COVID-19

 

Chicago Artists Relief Fund

  • Fund created by Chicago-area artists intended to support area artists facing financial hardship due to Coronavirus related cancellations
  • Donate to the fund
  • Applications for assistance - temporarily suspended -  reach out to chicagoartistsrelief@gmail.com with questions

 

Goverment Assistance

Illinois Department of Employment Security

  • Apply for Unemployment Insurance

 

U.S. Small Business Administration

  • Disaster Assistance Loans for Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus
  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Declarations

 

National Endowment for the Arts

  • News and Resources for Artists and Arts Organizations

 

Public Health Resources

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • Specific updates on nature, extent, risks, and treatment of Coronavirus
  • Establishing Infectious Disease Outbreak Response Plan

 

Illinois Department of Public Health

 

Chicago Department of Public Health

  • Specific guidance for Event Organizers, Community-based Organizations, Businesses and Employers, and others.