The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation, the non-profit organization that owns the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell, has re-opened applications for the Jazz & Heritage Music Relief Fund – a statewide relief fund to support Louisiana musicians and industry workers who have lost income amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The collapse of the live music industry has affected not only musicians, but thousands of music industry workers and cultural bearers who work alongside them. The pandemic has triggered a “domino effect” in the music sector with cancelled music events disrupting income for so many. The deadline to apply as a musician is March 31. For industry workers the deadline is April 6.
The Jazz & Heritage Music Relief Fund was first created in March 2020 by the Foundation to support Louisiana musicians whose livelihoods had been adversely impacted by the pandemic. During the past year, relief fund grants have been awarded to 2,500 musicians, music industry workers and Black masking Indians with distributions totaling just more than $1,000,000. An additional $800,000 has since been raised with thanks to community partners and advocates: Spotify; Greater New Orleans Foundation, Inc.; Miller/ Crescent Crown; New Orleans Business Alliance; Bentson Foundation; Give Back 2020 Tulane Fund; Michael Murphy Productions; Goldring Foundation; R.C. Baker Foundation and more than 1,500 donors from across the world.
Recognizing the continued dire hardships the pandemic is causing for Louisiana’s music community, the Foundation’s board has extended its giving efforts to help offer further economic relief. The first round of funding will be open to musicians. Additional funding for music community members will be announced in the coming months. The board plans to continue to explore opportunities to aid Louisiana’s music culture during this crisis to expand upon its existing community support.
Those eligible for this round of the relief fund are musicians who currently live in Louisiana. Applications are open now at www.jazzandheritage.org/apply. Musicians without access to a computer or internet, can call 504-558-6108 for application assistance. Don Marshall, executive director of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation, said, “The contributions musicians make to enrich our lives are immeasurable. It’s important that we recognize the centrality of music and culture in our daily lives. Now more than ever is a time to support and acknowledge the impact musicians have on our cultural continuity. The impact this fund has had on the music community has been one full of hope and perseverance. It was created during a time when so many people needed good news.”
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Board President, Jeffrey Goldring, added, “The social and financial inequities that many musicians experienced before the pandemic have only been amplified by the current global pandemic. With a commitment to continuing the support for our local music community, the Foundation’s board believes that the Jazz & Heritage Music Relief Fund is timely, but most of all, still necessary.”
The Foundation has invested proceeds from Jazz Fest directly into the community with grants to fund projects that support the Foundation’s mission. Over the last 10 years, more than $9.1 million dollars have been awarded in Community Partnership Grants. Through the Jazz & Heritage Music Relief Fund , the Foundation continues its support of Louisiana’s music community. Donations are still being accepted. Make your tax-deductible donation to the relief fund at www.jazzandheritage.org/relief; 100 percent of donations will be applied directly to aid.
