I just returned from the Ann Arbor Art Fair and visited with some glass artists there who are going through very tough economic times because of a recent hospitalization. Can anyone tell me if this is a case where CERF can help? (Craft Emergency Relief Fund)

You need to be a member of Art Fair Insiders to add comments!

Join Art Fair Insiders

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • Connie et al,

    Guidelines for who is eligible for assistance are available at the CERF+ website. It is indeed retristed to professional craft artists who make a living from making crafts. It was a grass roots organization that was founded by Josh Simpson, a glass blower; the recently deceased Carol Sedestrom Ross, then President of the ACC craft enterprise div. of craft shows and other craftspeople in order to better help their peers who had suffered career threatening emergencies. These people recognized that there was a need for a more formal "passing of the hat" so-to-speak. It was founded as an interested free loan program and at that time I believe the first loans were $250.00. Now, at it's 25th anniversary there are a multitude of programs, a Directors Grant Program, small loans and something called the Pheonix program which can be up to $25,000 and includes business and management programming. All of this is the result of the visionary Executive Director, Cornelia Carey and the many board members she has trained and nurtured over the years (myself included).

    The reason why there is not a similar program for 2D artists - I can only surmise because you have not started a program for yourselves. If you want a program like this you have to start your own grass roots organization. All it takes is a few committed people. And since CERF already exists it's not like you have to reinvent the wheel, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

    martha
  • Well, that is part of the reason I started this discussion. Not only am I concerned for my friends (now in serious trouble because they have no health insurance), but also because I keep thinking about the fund they have started at Des Moines to help the artists who had damage there. Not that I think Stephen King needs more work, but their efforts could be the seed for something bigger for art fair artists.

    Bill and Jon Slade said:
    Larry, Indeed there is no avenue for 2-d assistance; Why??? Maybe you and others should consider starting some organization//CERF was founded by many artists at an ACC event/and spearheaded by Josh Simpson -glass artist
  • Larry, Indeed there is no avenue for 2-d assistance; Why??? Maybe you and others should consider starting some organization//CERF was founded by many artists at an ACC event/and spearheaded by Josh Simpson -glass artist
  • Actually CERF is only for crafts artists, not two dimensional artists.
    http://craftemergency.org/programs/relief/eligibility/

    There is nothing like it for 2D artists.

    Larry Berman
    Digital Jury Services
    http://BermanGraphics.com
    412-401-8100
  • Connie,
    To my knowledge the case needs to be submitted to CERF; and they review each individual case, and make a decision . Indeed first thing is their website, and a phone call won't hurt either; After all the years and assistance CERF has provided to many we all need to support CERF; you never know if or when help will be needed. Although we are all going through tough economics a donation to a CERF raffle ,auction, goes a long way. Cerf was started by and for artists. Fair Winds
  • Hi Connie,

    Have you checked out the web site?
    http://craftemergency.org/programs/relief/

    Larry Berman
    Digital Jury Services
    http://BermanGraphics.com
    412-401-8100
This reply was deleted.