MIAMI: The National YoungArts Foundation has launched an emergency grant program to support alumni of its program experiencing financial hardship caused by COVID-19. The foundation—which provides creative and professional development opportunities to accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, and performing arts—has announced that it is dedicating more than $250,000 to create an Emergency Microgrant program.

The YoungArts Emergency Microgrants are unrestricted $1,000 grants that will be distributed in three cycles over the next three months, from April through June 2020. YoungArts alumni who are at least 18 years old, have been practicing art for at least the last three years, and who rely on income from the arts are encouraged to apply. Eligible applications will be selected using a lottery system with the goal of awarding more than 80 Emergency Microgrants each cycle.

Applications for the first cycle opened April 8 and close on April 27. Second cycle applications open on April 27 and close on May 25, and third cycle applications open on May 25 and close on June 22. 

Notable alumni of the YoungArts theatre program include Viola Davis, Judith Hill, and Timothée Chalamet.