Since April of 2020, Music Export Memphis has granted more than $300,000 in relief to more than 450 individual Memphis musicians and music professionals through our COVID-19 Artist Emergency Fund.
Our response to COVID-19
We’ve done this with your help, and the generous support of the Kresge Foundation, the Hyde Family Foundation, Crosstown Arts, the Roots & American Music Society, the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, and ArtsMemphis.
Artists: How to apply for COVID relief
COVID Artist Emergency Fund Grants Will Reopen Sept. 27, 2021
- Opens: Monday, September 27, 2021
- Deadline: Friday, October 15, 2021 at 5pm
- Subsequent applications will be reviewed every two weeks until funds run out.
Important eligibility information
- Greater Memphis Area residents age 18 and older only. Proof of residence must be provided with the application.
- Proof of residence may be a driver’s license, recent utility bill, lease agreement or similar documentation noting your name and address.
- Greater Memphis Area is defined as within the following counties: Crittenden-AR, Desoto-MS, and Fayette, Shelby and Tipton in Tennessee
- Applicants must provide documentation or proof that their artistic income is/was generated within Shelby County.
- Artists of all disciplines who have lost income due to the COVID-19 pandemic after March 1, 2020 and before the date of application.
- Proof of lost income is required with the application.
- This funding is intended to support individuals who receive a significant percentage of their income through their art or through arts sector employment as an artist.
- Recipients of Artist Emergency Funds in 2020 are eligible to apply.
How to support the MEM COVID Fund
Donate directly to the fund, any time, any amount – it all makes a difference and helps us keep relief flowing to our music community.
Music Export Memphis will not take any percentage of funds raised to cover administrative costs so that all donations will go directly to artists. MEM is a 501c3 organization (ID: 82-2214830) and your gift is tax deductible.
Learn More
For grants distributed between April and June, applicants reported a total loss of income of more than $2.4 million dollars. Learn more about the impact on our music ecosystem on The Daily Memphian’s Extra Podcast as host Eric Barnes talks to MEM Executive Director Elizabeth Cawein.