FAQs
Contributors
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You’re in the right place! You can donate to our GoFundMe to benefit artists and art workers affected by the Los Angeles–area fires who have submitted an application to Grief and Hope. The Brick (the nonprofit visual art space founded as LAXART) is accepting direct donations over $10,000. For payment information, please write to Jeremy E. Steinke, Director of Development (jeremy@the-brick.org).
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Donations will go directly to artists and art workers who have been affected as soon as possible. Seriously.
Once GoFundMe allows us to receive the funds (there is a waiting period), we will start the process of direct distribution to artists and art workers who are survivors of the Los Angeles–area fires and who have submitted an application.
We expect to distribute the funds in early February 2025 on a rolling basis, in equal amounts, based on the total funds raised. A simple follow-up survey and minimal vetting process will be conducted prior to disbursement.
Please note that GoFundMe deducts a fee (2.9% of funds raised + $0.30 per donation) before releasing funds.
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Same deal—donations will go to artists and art workers who have been affected as soon as possible.
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To support our community. The GoFundMe platform is a highly visible, galvanizing tool that offers automated services. It allows us to gather small, medium, and large donations all at once! For those who can give more, a direct donation to The Brick provides a more personalized experience without automated service fees.
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Yes, as of January 16, 2025, we have confirmed that donations via GoFundMe as well as directly to The Brick are tax-deductible. Many thanks to The Brick for being our fiscal sponsor!
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Feel free to contact us at la.art.fire.relief@gmail.com. We’re happy to answer questions.
Our primary goal is care—to get funds to folks as quickly and seamlessly as possible, knowing how much they have to deal with right now.
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To get funds out quickly and efficiently, and also to afford our volunteers some rest. For these reasons, our fundraising campaign will conclude for individual donations on August 1st.
We’re grateful that our community colleagues are continuing this work with the Getty-led LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund. Their fund application is here. -
That’s awesome! Thank you. Individual donations will wrap up on March 15, 2025. The Brick has also agreed to accept pooled group and auction fundraiser proceeds through March 15, 2025. Please write to Jeremy E. Steinke, Director of Development (jeremy@the-brick.org), for payment information.
After that time, we at Grief and Hope will continue to amplify the outreach efforts of community-led fundraisers and nonprofits that have the infrastructure to sustain long-term mutual aid, gifting, and granting.
Artists and Art Workers
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Great question! How do you define these terms?
Okay, okay, we’re joking… and also kind of serious. People spend their whole lives discussing this subject!
Loosely, an “artist” is someone who creates, such as a painter, sculptor, illustrator, performer, photographer, etc.
An “art worker” is someone who works in the arts. Loosely, this can be someone who is employed by an organization such as a gallery, museum, foundation, shipping company, auction house, artist’s studio, residency, or art advisory group. The roles of art workers include–but are not limited to—curator, art transport driver, registrar, preparator, janitor, art educator, docent, gallery owner, sales director, visitor services associate, executive assistant, communications manager, security guard, development director, shipping logistics coordinator, fabricator, exhibition designer, translator, human resources manager, copyeditor, bookkeeper, archivist, photographer, grants writer, researcher, executive director, fine art insurance broker, social media manager, membership associate, collection manager, appraiser, etc.
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Yes. We are not asking for information about other sources of funding.
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From our end, yes—we will not be asking for information regarding other disaster-relief funds you’re applying for. However, we cannot speak to how other funds will assess or disburse their support. For example, please review this FEMA page: Rumor: If I receive donations from a GoFundMe page or something similar, FEMA will not help me.
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From what we understand about the Getty-led fund, receipt of funds from Grief and Hope should not exclude you from consideration for their fund. And in general, emergency disaster relief funding is not typically mutually exclusive. That said, it probably depends on the context and your individual situation. Please do your own research, talk to trusted accounting professionals, and take a look at the LA Arts Community Fire Relief Fund’s application for more information.
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Full loss means that the building you lived or worked in does not exist anymore. (And, we’re really sorry you had this happen to you.) Severe damage can include smoke damage and debris clean-up. Personal property loss involves studio materials, artwork, archives, equipment, etc. that relates to your artistic and/or professional practice.
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We’re keeping it as simple as possible, while still allowing for basic vetting before fund dispersal. So, for example: name, email, phone number, affected address, emergency contact, and current address. The application has a few clear yes/no checkboxes to confirm eligibility. (Some optional demographic info can be entered, too.) Two forms of ID are required: one to verify your name, the other to verify your connection to the address affected by the fire.
These requirements might be challenging for those who have lost paperwork in the fires. If you need help with this part of the application, please be in touch and we will work with you to figure it out.
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We can verify your eligibility in one of two ways: 1.) By performing a search via the Los Angeles County Fire Department fire damage maps to confirm that the applicant’s address has been listed as an “affected, minor/major damage, or destroyed structure,” or 2.) By performing a Google Maps search to determine if the address is within 1.5 driving miles of an affected structure or the fire zone edge. If your confirmed affected address falls within this criteria, we will advance your application.
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Our funds are available to every artist or arts professional affected by the fire, regardless of immigration status. To qualify you need only confirm your relationship (residence, studio, or workplace) to an address affected by the fires.
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Yes, provided that each individual applicant is an artist and/or art worker and has experienced full loss or severe damage as described.
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We’re not sure yet. Our goal is to distribute funds raised equally amongst all vetted-and-accepted applicants.
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Our intention is to disburse a first round of funds in equal amounts in early February. The Brick will issue individual payments via Bill.com (electronic transfer) or via check.
We’re accepting group-fundraiser donations (such as exhibition or auction proceeds) through March 15, 2025. In late March, a second round of funds will be equally disbursed.