Globally, Joan Hyman Yoga has collaborated with TPA to provide free virtual yoga classes on a weekly basis no matter where in the world you are. Information can be found on social media channels, Joan Hyman's website or on the upcoming Health & Wellness tab. Alongside the SIMS Foundation and Backline, TPA announces the "Coffee Break" Zoom meeting on February 24. It's an opportunity to discuss mental and emotional health and to provide a little hope during a tough season.
In the U.S., the Touring Professionals Relief Kitchen (TPRK), a TPA partnership with The LEE Initiative, celebrates bringing 7,500 touring professionals chef-driven meals in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City and Nashville. Read more about their good work from American Songwriter.
FindHelp.org is a quick search tool to find food assistance, financial assistance for monthly bills and a variety of free or low-cost programs related to the pandemic. Support and options are easily found with a quick ZIP code search.
TPA partners with the SIMS Foundation to provide mental health and substance use recovery services for all musicians, industry professionals and their dependent family members. SIMS' goals are to destigmatize seeking help and offer mental health support. TPA also partners with "Be an #ArtsHero," a grassroots campaign of workers, unions, and institutions pushing for political action to provide relief for the arts and culture sector of America.
In the U.K., The government announces several new grants and relief measures aimed at the industry. Arts Council England, through its National Lottery Project, offers grants designed to help independent organizations, freelancers and other creative workers. Debt Relief Orders (DRO) and Bounce Back Loans are available.
For residents in Manchester, the HOME fund is created to assist freelancers working in the following artistic, cultural and creative fields: music, theater, dance, visual arts, museums, literature, heritage culture (and more). For residents of Scotland, the government announces Scotland's Events Recovery Fund (SERF) to help the events sector through the end of 2021 with earmarked funds.
The UK E Artswork and NHS provide helpful information for creative industry workers to navigate the changes related to Brexit. The Arts Council's LiveMusic.biz website regularly updates UK touring musicians and their crews information on post-Brexit entry requirements.
Music Minds Matter and Music Support provide mental health counseling, and in both the U.K. and the U.S., MusiCares continues its emotional health and mental wellness group for industry professionals each week on Fridays via Zoom.
Across the E.U., various support programs are launched. VI.BE in Belgium aggregates a list of support measures for the music and cultural sectors for bookers, managers, entrepreneurs, musicians and techs. In the Netherlands, Rijksoverheld announces a support and recovery package with temporary financial assistance, investment measures and unemployment help.
Various federal and cantonal provisions and support measures are outlined by the Swiss website Branchenhilfe.ch. The French Centre National de la Musique has also organized a list of COVID-19 related resources. InitiativeMusik in Germany announces its aid program for musicians and related programs.
The Portuguese government, through its Segurança Social program, offers assistance to those whose employment has been reduced or suspended due to the coronavirus, and Catalonian Spain has specific economic and social assistance for self-employed individuals through Gencat.
