The following are unedited, uncensored, unrated responses (published in the order received, as of April 1, 2020 at 5 pm) to the COVID-19 Impact Survey question:
What do you require most urgently (in the next 3 weeks) to help you respond to the challenges of COVID-19? Consider financial and other needs such as legal, physical/mental health, famlly, education and other support.
I am okay in many aspects but the mental health would be primary concern. I am prone to depression and anxiety. Knowing that my studio rent is paid for, and knowing that I am not alone will help.
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I would love some way to find out which arts organizations will be able to continue to operate in the near future and a conduit for job application. Work In Culture is fine, but it’s not quite attuned to some of the specifics of a covid19 world. Oh and I need to be able to pay my various bills. Interest relief on debt would be important.Forgiving of all student loan debt would immediately put all tha money back into the economy.
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Financial for sure – though its hard when you know others are suffering to a greater degree. But even if its not as impactful to me at this time and that I can manage it is still creating a hardship in my family. I feel guilty for feeling disappointed and scared when on the other hand I’m also lucky in many ways. And I don’t even know if the pittance that I would accrue comparatively qualifies me for anything. Basically lost and ashamed to actually voice what I am going through.
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it would be great to get same financial support as people who are getting CERB with deducting out business revenue from it. This way we won’t have to close our online shops and still will make sure we have enough money for the basic needs and paying bills.
We are also working on building our own standalone website and it would be great if there were any grants available for e-commerce development.
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I would love to see the SODEC commit to pay the financial support that touring artists were eligible for, even if their tours were shortened due to the coronavirus.
Funders such as FACTOR, the Canada Council, and the CALQ have already made announcements that they will not penalize artists who received grant money for projects impacted by the coronavirus and who had already made un-refundable payments towards those projects.
Such a move by the SODEC, following the lead of these other organizations, would help reduce the personal debt we are now facing.
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A rent reduction or subsidy would be the only thing I can really ask for. If we dont have to worry about all our savings going to April’s rent, we could afford to have our employee do more work while we’re closed, and can work on advertising and preparing for the future and changing with the times
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As a person with a history of anxiety and depression this has taken a serious toll on my mental health. It has been something I haven’t even been able to consider financially as rent, utilities, and food come first. Financial support would take the pressure off and would allow me to have enough money to survive, to access mental health supports, and not have to worry about finding temporary employment that could put me and my family at risk of illness.
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Eligibility from CERB that allows me to still do the small administrative tasks I have to do for either wrap up or planning of festivals /events (approx $150-$200/wk). Some mental health supports would be helpful.
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Financial need is at the forefront as I feel I will become food insecure soon. My physical and mental well-being rely a lot on being outdoors and that hasn’t been as much of a possibility lately. I’m also having trouble coping with the fact that my family all lives in the USA or in BC and the thought that if one of them were to have covid I might not ever see them again if they suffer grave symptoms and die.
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Financial support.
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To be paid for the work that I had already done, at least.
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My biggest need right now is financial support. I really need money to pay rent and buy food.
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I’m fortunate to still have some contracts that should see me through the next 3 weeks financially. So, my urgent needs are: 1. Government programs that will meaningfully aid my friends and peers who are out of work (this will likely be me too in a little while); 2. Connections with personal and professional support networks, including community organizing initiatives; 3. Time and motivation to continue creative work.
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Economic support in the short term is very important – and longer term investment in projects and arts for the future. These cancelled projects have taken years and months to develop and losing them will mean years and months more work.
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At this time the most important thing I can think of is income. It’s heartbreaking seeing my spouse leave for work while I stay home. I never wanted that to happen to us, feeling like a burden to her with no hope for something better in the coming weeks. It has become very trying for our relationship.
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My situation is a lot less precarious than most artists. I will be ok in the short term but I have serious concerns about the future.
This quote from an artist in The Guardian is a good summary:
While the financial impact of Covid-19 is massive on those working in the arts, the impact of coronavirus goes beyond the loss of wages – it affects our visibility. Projects which have been in the pipeline for many months are put on hold, or no longer possible. Perhaps they lose their relevance as this global crisis escalates as it has. Galleries and cultural spaces rearrange their programmes, pushing an already competitive workforce into greater competition for places. This situation is complicated for us all, but without support, we risk a whole generation of artists slipping away.
I know there’s a critical need for immediate relief for visual artists, many of whom are among the lowest earners in the whole arts sector. There also needs to be a recognition of the indirect and longer term consequences for ‘visual artists’. I really hope granting agencies, galleries, museums, and art venues of all sorts account for that in their budget and future programming.
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I will be missing over $4000 in fees from my theatre contracts. I am a costume and Jewellery designer and depend on craft and farmer’s markets during the summer and those will all likely be cancelled as well so that’s another $2000-$3000 lost. I have no children to worry about. Mental health has been a life long issue so I am doing my best to look after myself mentally and physically. The missing potential of $6000 to my household will be felt and my husband and I have to cut down our spending considerably.
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Financial support. Primarily replacement for the loss of my full time job income, as well as for the income lost due to cancelled contract work.
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I need something similar to CERB for people who have lost part of their employment. And I need it to take into account that the time I spent doing my second job is now spent looking after loved ones.
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I’m old, so have materials to continue painting in house. Not starving, but the peer support you get from a show is missing. It’s a really sad, difficult time.
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Money.
I’m lucky to have supportive family and friends, and a partner and pets. So I’m not too worried for my mental health. I’m able to go for walks and hikes. I have a garden I can putter in. And I can always move to the rural studio and live there if my main studio gets shut down; this would give me constant access to clay and tools.
If I lost studio access for an extended time I would not cope very well. Routine and the physical stim of clay in my hands is fundamental in keeping sane.
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Financial: Definitely need financial support to pay rent & bills.
Physical help: my knee replacement was postponed, was sorely needed, so my mobility is very challenged.
Other: Support to find ways to complete projects, realign them, revision ongoing and future projects.
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Financial assistance to cover rent, utilities and food is important as my income is now zero.
I have medical tests and appointments coming up thus month. I’m likely going to postpone them out of concern for being infected. They are important but not urgent.
I am concerned about my young adult children and how they are handling this situation.
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Income subsidy
Therapy/mental health subsidy
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I would love to not have to worry about rent. The government help will be great, but rent is due tomorrow and the help isn’t here.
I’m worried I won’t qualify for the help.
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- Rent and bill payments
- Grocery money
- Human contact
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I need financial aid as soon as possible! I need to be able to pay for my medication (as I have asthma, and ulcerative colitis), my food, and most urgently, my rent.
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I am too depressed to even know how to articulate what I need. I have no idea. I am able to get out of bed (mostly), and cook for myself. Motivation is an issue. As an Artist who is INCORPORATED, I have no idea where I FIT in terms of qualifying for any financial assistance – so, I suppose I need to speak with an « expert », but I have no idea who that might be.
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Clear and unified information about eligibility and access to financial support that may replace lost income.
Reassurance that employers/engagers/programmers will not use the current good will (desperation) of artists as an excuse to undervalue their work, or roll-back terms and conditions in the long term.
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Most definitely financial, but mental health is so important right now
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Mainly need financial help do that we can continue to buy groceries and not lose our home. Of course mental/physical help would be great during this trying time but financial stress is the most pressing.
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Mental health support. My benefits max out at $500 for therapy and counselling, which is more urgently needed than ever in this challenging time.
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First and foremost financial aid is desperately needed to help me and many others in my situation through this. As someone who is self employed and not a member of a union, there are very few resources available to me. And truthfully, I also think being given options to work in a way that could be helpful (even outside of the entertainment industry) would be immensely helpful. I know that may not be possible.
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Financially, rent and other reoccuring bills need to be paid with little to no savings; I don’t want to have to access my RRSP’s early but if need be, I may have to, My husband is a musician as is currently working his day job (water delivery) and I fear for him as he risks his health everyday by visiting several places and coming into contact with other essential workers.
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I’m fortunate that I don’t need anything in the next 3 weeks, but I am nervous for what will happen in the coming months as my income and sustainability is entirely up in the air.
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I need to pay rent. I have an injured left foot which equity knows about which I was going to physio for. But sadly those appointments will have to stop now.
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Most urgent is figuring out and securing finances for mortgage, bills and food… we are trying to be the best we can be with teaching our kids at home and helping them stay on track and be positive… that’s it, just want the best for my family and keep everything we’ve work hard to build as a family as entertainers.
Thanks
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Of course, financial support is the main concern. My main sources of income, beyond performance work, includes promotional work, teaching in arts education, child care, events, etc. All of these sources of income require social interaction, and while there are things put in place to promote online learning and connection, this is limited (one voice lesson a week, at a discount for example). On top of this, mental health is certainly a concern. My art and my career connect me to the world, and it can feel extremely debilitating to lose all of that in a matter of days, with no end in sight. Being in close quarters with 7 other people can be trying as well. I would love to have access to mental health supports, for example licensed therapist phone calls or zooms for free.
One thing that has continued to lift my spirits is the ways in which communities are coming together using the internet, through live instagram yoga and dance, etc. There needs to be more support for organizations who are continuing to offer classes, or who are arranging digital readings or live recordings of bedroom concerts, etc.
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Personally, I think I’m okay. I have a strong network of support around me, and at the moment a weekly income. Of course the national and global situation is changing all the time, but the more clarity we receive on the situation and the plans the better.
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On-line support for social media communication out-reach
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To have some level of financial support.
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I am doing okay. I am married to someone who is still working, so we have income. Our 20 year old daughter was supposed to graduate from College in May, so trying to keep up her morale and trying to stay healthy is tiring. I miss the social inaction the most. Actors aren’t meant to be solitary.
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What I would need most urgently would be a break on the rent. I am hesitant to rent the room right now to someone unknown with the increased spread of the virus and yet I can’t afford the place on my own, and a move would be overwhelming, especially as this place is healthy and secure (I have strong allergies and sensitivities and have in the past experienced many troubles with second hand smoke in buildings). I am not in dire straits right now but will not be able to sustain no income and double rent for many months.
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Income support. Approximately 2/3rds of my income has been removed. My students are currently paid through June when their next term tuition is due. There is no other income available. I do not qualify under current proposals for governmental support as I am still working.
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I am fortunate to be in a position where financial concerns are not an immediate issue. I am waiting to hear about the status of the show I was doing as well as a contract that I had lined up for the summer. My part-time job has also been significantly reduced. I was expecting some hours between now and June. I guess what I need in the next few weeks is some sense of certainty (Don’t we all). I am concerned that as more and more restrictions are put in place that access to food will be difficult.
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I definitely am in need of financial support, as many of the theatre-based jobs that I lost were paid gigs that I was expecting a pay check from.
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I require financial aid – however due to the continuation of a meager income through part-time online work, I am deemed ineligible for EI or other Covid-response emergency relief funds. This is a serious misstep in the bureaucratic system, as I desperately need financial aid. I am not making enough at this point in time to pay my bills, pay my rent, or purchase groceries.
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Financial aid, mental health services (couselling / therapist) — these two things of course feel very intertwined.
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I think the CERB is the thing I am most hoping for as that money will really help with immediate bills. I have some savings and will be fine otherwise.
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Regular income, clarity around CERB–for example, a couple of places I contract with have offered some online gigs that are temporary but I dont know if I can accept because I fear I will be inegible for CERB despite it not being nearly enough. I also run a non-profit arts collective that makes its money off of membership but not enough to file taxes–we basically just have our studio rent covered and get paid only when we run workshops or get projet grants. I fear we will fall through the cracks since nothing is offered to small groups like us (we don’t make enough to receive core grant support either).
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I need financial aid. I can apply for CERB once I reach the 14 days of no income but I won’t qualify if my work is able to bring me back half time. It doesn’t make sense not to help people who are able to salvage maybe half their normal wages – we can’t live off that.
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I am in need of money to pay for monthly rent and groceries.
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The two paycheques I would have received in the next three weeks.
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I wish there was a way i could figure out what might be fair to ask for from the province for small business assistance. I don’t feel right asking for what they are offering, which is $500 a week, because I wouldn’t have made that much in book sales. Also, they want me to prove that in 2019 my books were my primary income, but they weren’t then. So I don’t really fit the mold. I’ve sold a few books lately locally by ‘safe-delivering’ to doorsteps. What I really need is exposure to make up the lost sales with ebooks, but as I said, I’m not a very good marketer. So maybe what I need is just some exposure.
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I need a source of regular financial help to make up for my lost contracts and to help me be able to pay the bills and buy food as my pension doesn’t cover it.
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I hope that I will be able to receive the new emergency support benefit. If I receive that I should be able to make it through the next few months. Artistically no one can help me but myself. So I write, I build puppets. I look to the future.
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As Vancouver in not affordable at all, my main concern is to be able to pay the rent.
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I am stocked for the next weeks and am able to make occasional, careful trips to stock up. I am well attended with my partner and we are content and healthy. My family lives in Ontario and I have no dependents so generally I am little impacted for now, especially if I will be eligible for CERB (in fact the CERB payments will be rather more than I would have earned in gigs). I am much more concerned for people in greater need – elderly and immunocompromised people, as well as marginalized people, like people of colour, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and victims of domestic violence and abuse, who will be disproportionately affected by SAH orders and harsh policing.
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- Financial
- Advice – I’m blocked from getting an MSP card due to the fact the ICBC licensing centres are closed
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Obviously financial support that is a given. But perhaps more benefits from our association when we do go back to work? Maybe access to mental heath professionals, physical recovery and medical care.
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I think the government CERB plan is going to help for many freelancers because there are many of us that do not qualify for EI. I do hope to program opens up applications soon as people need to pay bills and rent and with no incoming money it is not attainable for potentially months.
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At the moment, I have hope that there will be federal financial assistance. I don’t want to be partisan, I think Trudeau is doing a very good job saying all the right things to keep us calm and focussed. The problem is the Liberals always talk progressive and act conservative. I’m putting my hope into EI or CERB. I work a mix of employment and self-employment gigs. I don’t think I have the 700 employment hours required for EI. The Shadbolt Centre is kind and wants to pay me the $75 a week they have booked me for an after school drama classes. I fear that I do not have the hours to qualify for EI and the $75 the Shadbolt says they will pay me will disqualify me for CERB. I fear that because of my mix of employment and self-employment gigs I will not qualify for any program. I want to have hope but I have a lot of fear.
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Fortunately, a series of six invoices for large First Aid classes taught done at a community college over the past 2 years is finally being paid this week, which means my expenses are covered for the next 4 months. Otherwise, I’d be going into high interest debt to meet basic expenses like rent, electricity, phone, internet and cable. I need to stay connected to friends and family in order to maintain my morale and mental health.
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Financial support and remote employment opportunities. My loved ones are nearby so that’s been keeping me going!
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Honestly, I struggle with not working just for mental health. I find it really hard to not feel like I have a purpose. It would also be great to hug someone. I live with my partner and he is the only person I interact with and I really appreciate him for that but I would love to hug someone else, especially the members of my theatre community. I am currently okay financially because I am incredibly lucky with the amount of work that I get throughout the year but I don’t know how long my funds will last.
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- Clear legislation for single parents to understand how to navigate custody and access in a pandemic
- Emergency relief funding and grants to cover rent, food and childcare.
- Free therapy to handle the anxiety and panic
- Clear legislation for renters who cannot afford their rent, and assistance implementing these systems for landlords.
- Safe space to continue to create music and art
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It would be helpful to know which type of government support I can qualify for – regular EI, the federal emergency funds or the provincial emergency funds the government has set out.
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I am fortunate and I am OK.These initiatives help with the mental health and gives us feelings of validation. It’s just a struggle because I don’t fit in a box right now and can’t apply for EI. I am trying to switch all my lessons to online but it was only supposed to be temporary and then I would continue to rebuild. At this point it seems uncertain if I can make a financial go of it and will have to find other employment.
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J’ai perdu mon emploi à temps partiel qui complétait mes revenus d’artistes en tant que travailleuse autonome. Puisque j’habitais à l’étranger jusqu’en août 2019 et étant étudiante, je n’ai pas eu le temps de faire 5000$ ou 700h de travail, ce qui rend toute aide financière impossible. L’argent est donc le besoin le plus criant. Du côté de la santé mentale, je suis choyée de profiter de rendez-vous téléphoniques avec ma thérapeute. Le confinement social m’apporte quand même beaucoup de tristesse, puisque la plupart de mon entourage fait partie de la communauté culturelle, tout le monde est déprimée. Terminer un baccalauréat dans ces conditions est également très démotivant et plus difficile. Je subis également une éviction de logement, qui me pousse à la recherche d’un appartement dans un contexte peu propice.
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I am concerned financially. With no end of the shut down in sight, it is near impossible to plan ahead or know when going back to work will be an option. I’m okay in isolation now, but paying my mortgage going forward is a very real concern.
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Currently most of my losses are financial. Mental health and stress from this (and an ongoing family trauma) has made my hair fall out (wish I was joking .. lol), but I honestly don’t want to give COVID-19 the full blame. Bu, sorting out financial help as a self employed person who normally doesn’t qualify for EI and had a 15k+ contract pulled out from them would be important.
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We need money. No strings attached, no requirements, no proof of lost income, not tied to last year’s income, etc. Just get the money out the door.
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Truthfully, I am doing ok. I have advocated for myself and thankfully have gained concessions with regards to my rent and therapy rates. I have enough groceries and a cozy apartment, a dog that keeps me company and a partner whom I see a couple times a week. I remain creative and have projects to work and focus on. I am updating materials and finding opportunities to shop them to casting. I am getting fresh air. I am staying informed but curbing my social media and news intake in anticipation of the government roll out. I have enough money in my bank account to tide me over until that assistance is received. Though I fully admit that if it weren’t for the steadiness of my most recent job, I would be in a much different situation. For that, I am grateful.
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I need a safe way to operate my business by mail. I need financial relief for the money I’ve lost resulting in lost income potential. I need subsidy for materials and education on how to grow my business in a time of economic uncertainty.
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I require funds to set up a home studio fully to continue silversmithing an preparing for markets
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I am ok right now. I have income for the moment from the week I had as a teacher. I will be layed off soon and then I plan to see how the EI situation is. We might be alright with just that.
It may be nice to connect with someone about the mental effects. I mean, it’s easy to just have some wine to help ease the stress, but I see myself perhaps leaning on that too much in my situation.
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I require financial aid first and foremost. Since rent deferment is not possible in my building I have worked out a payment plan but I don’t know when the funds will arrive from the CERB and if I can get any funds. Also, as an asthmatic I realize I am in a greater risk group and have decided to quarantine myself voluntarily. Emotionally I am anxious, stressed and afraid. I would like to have the means of speaking to my therapist or any counselor. Physically, I need an adjustment from my chiropractor but I am doubtful I can get one. So I am stretching and doing what little exercise I can in my unit.
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Money.
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Access to people that can help me finish my degree, access to space to make work
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I want to know from government that it is supporting our health experts and letting them guide policy. Personally I am fine.
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In the next three weeks, I would require some financial support and health support, but mostly educational.
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I’m concerned that I won’t be able to have the variety of prizes I was hoping for, nor the hundreds of dollars for display material. Most of the businesses I was expecting to tap for donations for materials like posters and looped videos, etc. are closed right now and will likely be stretched for cash when they re-open. Donations for something like this will be quite far from their minds. This year is the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, so the whole event that I’m arranging actually begins with a headstone hunt contest beginning just before Labour Day. Participants will have until Sept. 24th to visit our 3 local cemeteries and identify certain monuments of veterans that I will have chosen. Then, on an entry form, they must answer questions I’ve created. The owner of our company has already agreed to put up almost $1,000 in prize money for this part of the event and the draws for the cash prizes will be at noon at the community hall on the 26th. I’ve done this in the past and this year’s contest will be our 4th one. It attracts more participants every year and I’m told that it’s the only event of its kind in Canada.
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Financial assistance at least to cover the money owed as I am retired and recieving a partial pension, as after 25 years in my position with the City of Calgary, I left to return to school. The bills for the materials I had paid for must be paid, and the venues are closed, so I assume there will be no payment until reopening. I had counted on teaching or sales of work to provide the balance of my living expenses, but neither avenue is now available. I am currently just covering my mortgage, and bills, and it will continue to become more urgent the longer the isolation continues. Food, utilities, repairs, and supplies have all continued to rise and my income is frozen.
I do have health care, and am using the down time for design and research as there are no costs involved. I also seek out free computer classes to sharpen my skills.
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I need… for everything to just get back to normal… for the fog to lift… for this bad dream to just be over. My business as a theatre producer is suffering. My own work as an actor has simply vanished. I need (that ugly word) money. It’s that simple. We do so much for free… and even now, we are performing for free, doing our best to cheer people up online. I’m working on how to get on the ground running when it’s all over, so that I don’t lose my theatre. It’s hard. We do this for love, not money… but we still need some money… just enough money.
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Mental health support, health insurance, community.
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Financial, Family, education and mental health are all supports that I don’t have anymore because of the COVID-19 pandemic. I was really counting on that group exhibit to get us buy the next few months. My son is special needs with Autism so being able to structure a new routine for him at home is my main goal. I don’t really have time to create anything if the children are home and I am homeschooling them.
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Some kind of financial compensation ($1000/wk) to help supplement our lost revenue due to the impacts of COVID19.
Access to mental health and wellness workers, and money to provide for THEIR increased workload — I would not expect therapists or counsellors to work for free in the midst of this crisis.
Money for the education I am planning to start on September 28th of this year — some of which was to be self-funded; some of which I am hoping will be provided by OSAP.
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With my singing church job we were never given contracts. We were never given any cancellation clause or force majeure. In both my church singing job and my teaching position, we’re treated and expected to behave like staff but with none of the benefits that come with being a staffperson. I would love legal advise on how to proceed to see if myself or others in my organization could get assistance legally.
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Financial aid.
Affordable access to professional mental health counselling.
Permission to access my family safely.
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I require mostly financial aid, which hopefully the CERB will help with. However, what is affecting me most is the disappoint of not being able to perform in those shows that I worked so hard to book and was so looking forward to performing in. It’s not about losing the money for me, it’s about losing the opportunity to be in a show that I have had on my bucket list for years with other actors who I was so excited to work with.
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Basically we really need money. Combining the hope of government assistance with a stipulation that neither of us can receive ANY payments for any work that might still trickle in means we have to live on $0 for the 2 week period, plus the application period (another potential 10 days). A family of four with two arts worker parents with 0 dollars coming in for almost one month is very scary. We are still paying our mortgage, food, heat bill, etc during this time period so it is creating a lot of anxiety.
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I need legal help to update my will to cover additional contingencies if the designated guardians for my children are ill or deceased, and legal guidance with respect to my business if I should become ill or deceased, e.g., how to manage passwords etc. I have rebooked some travel due to the pandemic, though lack of certainty regarding the end of the pandemic may cause the dates to be rescheduled again or cancelled. Working through related cancelation charges with my clients may require legal assistance. While I’m able to care for my children, I’m not able to continue growing my business, creating new assets, and marketing my existing products. As a sole proprietor, I don’t qualify for EI. I can only estimate the financial impact.
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I require that people stay in their damn homes and stop ignoring government directives
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Finances are key. I am trying to service accumulated debt for the show that did not happen in London, nevermind cover ongoing costs of day to day.
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Personally I would like to be able to get some short-term help to cover the contracts I’ve lost. I need the government to understand the idea of a lost « gig » – it is not like losing ones job or regular income but the loss of a single contract while possibly others go on, but the loss makes planning impossible and destabilizes everything. It’s no « all or nothing » but a very delicate balancing act. Not so urgent but need assurance from granting organizations that these project delays and cancellations will not hurt future funding applications. I fear the future of cultural funding on all levels.
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Hubby is immuno-compromised. Son lives here and works in eldercare facility. We’re at-risk more than some families. Food costs are up. Delivery fees are up. Just $500 per month would help a lot, would help me settle and be able to write. It’s hit and miss now.
I’m grateful for the arts community’s emotional and psychological support. I’ve met many writers over the years and developed wonderful friendships. These keep me going.
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Money. Full stop.
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There are so many artists and arts worker offering classes, advice, content online for the benefit of everyone – but all for free. This is fine if you choose this and you are comfortable with it. But I lost my teaching job and someone response was that I put my classes online for free. That labour is worth something to me- I was doing to be paid for those instructions. It doesn’t have to be money, maybe some groceries or a trade of skill, or donate what you can. It feels like artists are supporting the world right now particularly through social media, but they are not getting compensated. Organized opportunities for artists to be paid or compensated for their online efforts (and have this be discussed or acknowledged publicly) would be appreciated and set a precedent that this work is valuable work.
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Luck. I’ve got a plan, I’m moving to the country to work on a farm, where labour is scarce and food is plentiful. I need to stay healthy, both in terms of avoiding COVID-19 and in terms of being physically fit.
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Financial assistance that extends Beyond 3-month window. For a lot of people in the event sector, we work crazy hours and multiple contracts over the spring and summer which represents the vast majority of our income. It’s a high intensity, short duration season of 4 to 5 months wherein we have to make 80 to 90% of our income for the entire year. So the notion of 2 Grand a month for 3 months is well, well below what independent contractors in the event sector actually need to bridge the entire 2020 season into 2021.
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I need help with basic bills to keep my household safe and healthy. Hydro, water, property taxes, car insurance, house insurance, groceries and supplies. Right now, without revenue coming in, but automatic payments still going out, I am paying for everything I can with credit cards that are already late so interest is gathering rapidly.
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Fortunately I’ll be able to see myself through the coming three weeks, but in a perfect world I would have loved to see a universal basic income where no one slips through the cracks, and improved access to mental health professionals for lower income brackets- especially for folks in our more remote and rural communities who are often overlooked in Canada. I have also noticed a lack of funds being made available for people in the commercial arts versus other creative paths (animation, fine art, writing). While that’s not goverent domain, I know a lot of other illustrators and designers like myself who will be struggling that much harder without equal grant access.
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My mental health is struggling. I was about to start medication for ADHD but now I need to be saving money. I was hoping to pay off my debt by the summer or fall but there isn’t much hope of that now. I don’t know what July rent will look like and I don’t know whether to find a job or just purposefully make nothing as a freelancer in hopes that CERB will help. Immediately I feel I need community-based structures to enforce a routine and accountability in my artistic practice.
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A lot of artists are giving their services for free online such as workshops. While this is so good for the community many artists are giving to the common good but are not recieving any compensation for their time and craft. It would be great to get paid for online courses and workshops.
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I would like to be able to help musicians I know who will be in trouble.
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I am in an okay position in the short term.
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$$$ Cash flow to help pay household bills etc. My husband is on a pension now, so less income coming in.
Our son will be moving back from university soon and that will increase the grocery bill, internet and electricity as well.
He has no income, so we will be supporting him. through this.
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1. Medical coverage
2. Access to continuity in mental health, as a sexual assault victim I have acquired ptsd and have a hard time feeling safe, and I make little progress when I’m feeling that way so I either need group therapy of some kind or one on one with the same female therapist
3. Financial support or alternative referral plans for 3rd party mortgages. My third party mortgage company has neither offered options for deferral, nor reduced the rate at the same rate that the banks have reduced their rates. I’m guessing lots of artists didn’t have reliable enough money like salaries and so any who do own homes (I know it’s rare) will likely be not receiving this type of support that others are.
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Financial support is huge. That’s the main one. Also education for people on how to utilize virtual platforms to continue to offer experiences and get donations or paid. I think also access to mental health services is huge. Most people can’t afford to see a therapist which is so important right now.
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I have some pension and living needs. I live on my own but so far feel supported by online and phone etc contacts from family and friends. As a painter who spends a lot of time alone I am quite good at living this way but I have anxiety about how long this will go on for; being apart from my family and as a senior hoping I will stay healthy. I live on a small budget and I feel I have to limit what I want to make because materials are expensive and the economic effects of COVID-19 will mean that it may be a long time before I would be able to recoup any outlay of expenses. I won’t stop making art, but it may have to be different than I had planned.
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I would need financial support the most to help me respond to the challenges of COVID-19.
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I need a basic income to cover my monthly living costs including mortgage payments, food, car (I live in a rural area), power, etc. If there was an affordable insurance option for self employed individuals, that would be great as well.
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I will need financial support the most. I am also worried about not being able to help my mom out who is recovering from cancer treatments.
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I require money to pay my rent and bills. I expect to receive financial assistance from the CERB.
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I’m actually okay. Money would always be nice. I’m losing a lot of money not working on this gig. EI does cover my bills, but nothing more. My retirement savings aren’t growing. I was trying to save to buy a house, but that fund is deflating. I’ve been too scared to go to the doctor for a recurring, non-Covid problem. I should go, but my anxiety is really high.
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