Macon Arts Alliance reaching out to artists struggling due to coronavirus

If you were an area artist and could sit down with Julie Wilkerson – which you can’t because of social distancing – but if you could, she’d tell you the Macon Arts Alliance has your back.

“If you’re an artist, alone out there or well-connected through social media or a support network, we know the pandemic has impacted your work, your opportunities to show or perform and your livelihood,” she said. “The Arts Alliance is here to help in any we can but there are important things you need to be doing right now.”

Wilkerson said one of the most important things artists can do immediately is sit down and figure the practical impact social distancing is having on them. She said one of the most important things the Alliance can do immediately is to help artists be aware and in place for potential help and aid. She said just-passed federal coronavirus assistance legislation originally included arts packages for individuals and organizations and that she and those at the Alliance are working to discover what is available and how artists and organizations can get in line for it.

She said other assistance may come from national, state and local groups like the National Endowment for the Arts, Cerf+, the Georgia Arts Council, and even local organizations like NewTown Macon.

“But it will all be based on impact surveys and that’s what’s important now,” she said. “We’ve created a page on our website with information and links to organizations and invite artists of all sorts to start there. There’s a link to a national impact survey.”

The page the Arts Alliance created is www.maconartsalliance.org/covid-19.

Wilkerson said the role of artist ranges from fine artists to photographers, writers, musicians, actors, performers, galleries and other creatives plus arts organizations. She also encouraged all to contact state and national legislators and other influencers asking them to remember artists in future actions.

“Many foundations and funding sources are also loosening restrictions on project grants and allowing money to be used for living expenses,” Wilkerson said. “That’s worth finding out. Locally, we’re here to help and NewTown Macon has a really strong guide dealing with small businesses, like galleries, and it also applies to artists, non-profit organizations, entrepreneurs and all who fall in related categories. We have a link to them on our page.”

Wilkerson said her organization, which operates several arts locations, feels the pain.

“We closed our gallery on 1st Street and I don’t know of any gallery that’s open,” she said. “People weren’t coming in but above all we want everyone to be safe and follow health guidelines. We’re in contact with other artists, groups and galleries and we’re all complying, trying to be wise, from the Grand Opera House to businesses like Blazing Paddles glass blowing to local film and live theatres. The fact bars and restaurants have shut down dining areas and are limited to curb service has its impact. We’re all a community.”

But Wilkerson also said, “If there’s a working artist out there who finds they’re suffering and can’t make rent, we hope they’ll contact us and together we might be able to find help.”

Aside from the Arts Alliance’s gallery closing, which means a loss of $4,000 to $5,000 a month with 60% going to artists, Wilkerson said activities and shows at their Mill Hill Community Arts Center are closed or postponed and only the Baker’s Collective is open but observing COVID-19 guidelines and doing curbside service.

Alliance staff members are working from home.

“Our annual Fired Works pottery show and fundraiser has been postponed until June 11-18 – fingers crossed,” she said. “It’s remarkable that 50 out of our scheduled 56 original artisans are able to sign on for the new date.”

Wilkerson described the Arts Alliance as the designated umbrella arts organization for Macon-Bibb County. They provide a marketplace and support for local artists and organizations through a variety of programs including such things as marketing help.

The Alliance has been instrumental in helping create a cultural plan for Macon-Bibb County with emphases, strategies and goals that Wilkerson said are more important than ever.

The group operates the online arts and entertainment calendar at www.macon365.com, which includes new features highlighting canceled and postponed events and information on online concerts and shows.

And the Alliance wants to help artists navigate the pandemic.

“We want to help though we’re all feeling it,” Wilkerson said. “There’s a lot of stress. I really hurt for any artists who are cut off and just isolated in their apartments worrying. We really need each other but this is what we can do right now, make a positive action like filling out impact surveys and knowing help is coming. Be self-isolate but don’t cut yourself off. I know I’m relieving stress by walking more and making sure I don’t gain back 15 pounds I lost because I’m eating too much while at home all the time. I’m keeping a schedule and accomplishing work every day. We all need that.”

Her final word?

“We’re all doing what we can, right?” she asked. “Maybe it’s on a limited basis but we can be ready, work together and do what we can for one another at a distance to get through this. There’s a lot of worries and no one knows how long it will take, but I believe on the other side people are going to be more excited than ever about going to an art show, buying work, seeing a play, going to dinner and hearing a band. It’s part of who we are. We just have to hold each other up and get there.”

The Macon Arts Alliance can be reached through www.maconartsalliance.org and (478) 743-6940.

Contact writer Michael W. Pannell at mwpannell@gmail.com.

This story was originally published March 27, 2020 at 8:00 AM.