Exclusively for Artists, Creative Workers, Organizations and Businesses
in Washtenaw County and members of The Arts Alliance.

An Imaginative and Innovative Marketplace for You to Sell Now and Deliver When the Time is Right

We can’t wait to see the fabulous items you will list! Is it already in your portfolio or something wonderfully new too perfect for someone to pass by? There are no limits to creativity! Here are some of the ideas:

• Creative products: artworks, a small wall mural, a week’s worth of designer face masks, garden sculpture, designing of green screens for video conferencing, gift cards, advance tickets, an exclusive visit to a studio, etc.
• Performing arts: musicians, dance lessons or a DJ on the sidewalk and neighbors on their porches or a dinner party in the future; a commissioned song or a poem presented via Zoom for a birthday or special event; storytelling; or an exclusive visit to a recording session or rehearsal, etc.
• Services: hanging or framing artwork; graphic design; historic research on a home or site; video archiving and exclusive opportunities, etc.
• Workshops and classes: online lessons for the kids or family, artist residencies, corporate creativity, art therapy, stress reducers, joy enhancers, movement classes, etc.

By Local Creatives for Locals to Buy!

Vendors and buyers are neighbors and community members. They value the art, craft, performance, programs and services created locally and want to retain the rich arts and cultural vibrancy that makes our region a great place to create, life, work, play and visit.

Thursday, May 21, at 5:00 p.m. Michigan Redistricting Virtual Town Hall - Interested in being on the commission? There are two weeks left to submit your application. Attend this town hall co-hosted by Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and co-hosted by the Michigan League of Women Voters to find out more. Apply to be on MI's Redistricting Commission here.

Monday, June 1, MCACA Grants due.  WARNING! DON'T WAIT until the last minute this year! MCACA is introducing the SmartSimple grant portal for all grants, completely replacing the eGrant system. Register early! Follow this link.

Grant Reviewers Needed - MCACA is accepting applications for panel reviewers for this summer/ If you're interested in this valuable professional development opportunity, find the “Personal Profile” Instructions by clicking here.

The HEROS Act- Congress' next COVID-19 Relief Bill  -Read the Democrat's one page brief

The following surveys are critically important for YOU to be included in the next CAREs act.

The story these surveys tell...COVID-19’s Impact on The Arts: Research & Tracking Update May 18, 2020

• COVID-19 Impact Survey for Artists and Creative Workers for Artists and Creative Workers.
• Economic Impact Survey of COVID-19 on Arts and Cultural Organizations

MCACA announced their Emergency Relief Funding grants redistributing National Endowment for the Arts' CAREs Act Funding. Woefully underfunded, there were 600 applicants seeking $5,000 grants of which only $500,000 was available. So much more is needed!  MCACA is appreciated for managing this difficult chore. Washtenaw County organizations received $37,500.

Ann Arbor

- Ann Arbor Art Center - $3,000

- Ann Arbor Summer Festival - $3,000

- The Arts Alliance -$2,500

- Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates - $3,000

- The Guild of Artists & Artisans - $3,000

- Kerrytown Concert House - $3,000

- Measure for Measure- $3,000

- Theatre Nova - $3,000

- UMS - $3,000

- Washtenaw Concert Band - $2,000

Chelsea - Purple Rose Theater - $3,000

Manchester - Riverfolk Music & Arts - $3,000

Ypsilanti - - Friends of the Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra - $3,000

Watch these pages on The Arts Alliance's website for regular updates:

• COVID-19 Aid & Assistance - Washtenaw County
  

• COVID-19 Aid, Assistance & Grants beyond  Washtenaw County

Events Safety Alliance Reopening Guide - This guide addresses health and sanitary issues that event and venue professionals need to consider in order to protect both patrons and workers. Since there is still insufficient testing, no contact tracing, and no vaccine against COVID-19, this guidance is particularly detailed.

Governor Whitmer’s Six Phase reopening plan -

CDC offers reopening guidance - part of the larger United States Government plan and focuses on leaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and can also be applied to homes. Review these industry-specific resources for businesses and consumers from the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

• 4/20/20,TCG Releases New Research: Coronavirus Preparedness and Impact Report,Theatre Communications Group
  
• 4/28/20, Show Business Is Adapting to the Pandemic, But It Won’t Survive Unless Congress Steps Up, Forbes
  
• 5/7/20 The Coronavirus Means Curtains for Artists The loss of revenue from live events is only the start of this particular disaster, The Nation
• 5/7/20, While Foundations Fund the Frontlines of Coronavirus Response, Detroit Arts And Culture Nonprofits Are Left Hanging, Detour Detroit5/12/20, Our Industry is Not Coming Back like Yours Is, Medium
• 5/14/20 'We're Clinging on' - Theatre Leaders Discuss Lockdown Turmoil, BBC.com
• 5/14/20 The fate of the summer movie season rests on one Christopher Nolan film, The Washington Post

• The IRS to issue prepaid debit cards instead of checks for the Economic Impact Payments
• Microloan Programs in the Ann Arbor Region - Ann Arbor Spark resource page
  
• The U.S. Treasury Department released long-awaited guidance and the official application for PPP loan forgiveness.
  
• There is over $100 billion still available in the Paycheck Protection Program.

Watch this page on The Arts Alliance's website for regular updates:
COVID-19 Legislation, CAREs Act, Taxe$ + More

WEMU 89.1 FM

For the fastest updates and breaking news!

• Follow The Arts Alliance on Facebook
• Follow The Arts Alliance on Twitter

The Arts Alliance’s COVID-19 support pages

• Aid & Resources, including health - Washtenaw County
• Aid & Resources beyond Washtenaw County
• Aid, assistance and grants for artists, creatives and organizations – COVID-19
• Legislation, CAREs Act, Taxes & More - Federal & State

Contact us anytime at info@a3arts.org or 734-213-2733.

The Arts Alliance is the arts + creative industry authority in Washtenaw County. A regional agency, its mission is to advocate for and support Creative Washtenaw: those who have creative practices, own creative businesses, hold creative jobs in profit, nonprofits and government entities; offer creative products, services and programs to county residents and visitors; and ensure that the greater Ann Arbor, Michigan, region remains a great place to create, live, work, learn, play and visit.

The intrinsic and aesthetic values of art and creativity are determining factors of success for its constituents: creative people, whether professionals, amateurs, students or industry experts leading the sector locally, nationally and internationally. The Arts Alliance serves Ann Arbor, Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Milan, Saline, Whitmore Lake and Ypsilanti plus the 21 townships in the county. It is committed to, forever evolving and learning about diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Arts Alliance is supported by its members, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

For more information, please go to http://www.a3arts.org or contact info@a3arts.org or 734-213-2733.