The Episcopal Actors' Guild
  • EMERGENCY AID
    • EARP
    • Other Resources
  • ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES
    • Scholarships
    • Thomas Barbour Award
    • Open Stage Grant
    • Midsummer Play Festival
    • The Intentional Artist
    • Rent Guild Hall
  • Membership
    • Join EAG
    • The Eaglet
    • Join a Committee
    • Make a Pitch to the Events Committee
    • Turnley’s Turns
  • Events
  • DONATE
    • Donate Now
    • Donate Food to The Actors Pantry
    • Volunteer
    • Planned Giving
    • Donor Advised Funds
    • Donate Stock
    • Matching Gift Programs
    • The Scott Glascock-George Holland Society
    • Holly Jolly
  • ABOUT
    • Mission
    • Who We Help
    • Officers and Council
    • Staff
    • History
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Financial Information
    • Visit Guild Hall
    • Blog
  • CONTACT

Resources for NYC Performing Artists

If you are experiencing an emergency

Dial 911 - Emergency services
Dial 988 - Mental Health Emergencies

Top Resources for Artists

  • The Entertainment Community Fund
  • The ECF's Job Portal
  • HRA (Food Stamps and other government aid)
  • Info about the HRA's Cash Assistance
  • Max's Kansas City (for self-employed artists)
  • Help When You Need It
  • FindHelp.org
  • Food Bank NYC
  • ​Catholic Charities
  • American Guild of Variety Artists
  • Mayer Foundation​​
  • SAG/AFTRA Foundation
  • The Salvation Army
  • United Way Find Help search engine

More Resources

Click an icon for more
Actors
Singers & Musicians
Dancers
Writers
Techs
Food
Mental Health
Legal
Housing
Grants
Parenting
Medical

 

Resources For Individual Professions

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For Actors​

  • The Entertainment Community Fund
  • SAG-AFTRA Foundation
  • Max's Kansas City (for self-employed artists)
  • Motion Picture & Television Fund (51% of income must come from California)
  • The ECF's Job Portal​
  • The Big Artist Opportunities List
  • Actors Rise ​
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For Singers & Musicians​

  • MusiCares
  • ​Musicians Foundation​
  • Jazz Foundation of America​
  • Sweet Relief Musicians Fund
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For Dancers

  • Dance/USA
  • Dance/NYC
  • Dancers over 40
  • Rauschenberg Grants
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For Playwrights

  • Authors League Fund
  • Dramatists Guild Foundation​
  • ​PEN Writers Fund
  • ​​Writers Emergency Assistance Fund
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For Theater & Film
Technicians

  • ​Behind the Scenes
  • Artists' Fellowship
  • Broadcasters' Foundation of America
  • Motion Picture & Television Fund (51% of income must come from California)
  • Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation  (for people who work in Exhibition [movie theatre employees], Distribution [people who work for a studio distributing film] and IATSE members [people who work on feature films or live theatre productions])​

 
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Food Resources

  • Catholic Charities​
  • City Harvest
  • ​Food Bank NYC
  • Food Stamps
  • ​God's Love We Deliver
  • Hunger Free America
  • ​Map of Free Meals
  • Masbia
  • NYC.gov Free Meals
  • NYC.gov Nutrition Kitchen
  • NYC.gov for Seniors
  • Soup Kitchen: Holy Apostles NYC (28th and 9th)
  • The Red Door Place
  • ​Too Good to Go
Additionally, a list of state and federal food-related benefits can be found here.
To browse resources for food, clothing,personal care, or shelter, visit gogetta.nyc/find.

 
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Mental Health Resources

For a mental health emergency, dial 988
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
1-888-NYC-WELL
The Samaritans: 212-673-3000
A comprehensive list can be found at humanrights.weill.cornell.edu/resources/mental-health-resources-nyc.
  • Alifa Therapy
  • The Art Therapy Nest
  • Asian Mental Health Collective
  • Bad Bitches Have Bad Days Too
  • Be Scene Be Heard
  • Betterhelp
  • Black Mental Health
  • Blanton Peale
  • Crime Victims Treatment Center
  • Drama Therapy
  • Entertainment Industry Therapist Finder
  • Indie Theater Fund NYC Mental Health Micro Grants
  • Inclusive Therapists
  • Latinx Therapy
  • Mental Health App Finder
  • ​Office of Mental Health NY
  • Online Behavioral Health Self-Assessment Screening Program
  • The NY Counseling & CSW Service
  • Psychology Today
  • Safe Space
Addiction & Substance Abuse
  • Addiction Resources list
  • Drug and Alcohol Rehab
  • SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
Sexual Assault
  • ​RAINN
  • Victim Services Center
Eating Disorders Help
  • Balance
  • NEDA
  • Dani Bryant | Body Liberation Therapy
And access a list of additional suggestions here and here.
 Pro-tip: Ask therapists if they have pro-bono spots available.

 
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Legal Help & Resources

Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (VLA) is the leading legal aid and education organization dedicated to New York artists and its arts and cultural organizations. VLA strives to protect the artistic community’s livelihoods, businesses, and creative works through access to dedicated legal representation and focused education programs. (https://vlany.org/)

Artistic Freedom Initiative facilitates wide-ranging support for persecuted or censored artists, including pro bono immigration representation for artists at risk who wish to travel or immigrate to the United States to pursue their creative endeavors. AFI’s network of pro bono attorneys assists with talent-based visas, performance visas, cultural exchange visas, asylum petitions and refugee status for artists facing persecution or censorship in their home countries.   (https://artisticfreedominitiative.org/our-programs/)

City Bar Justice Center: If you are a New Yorker with limited income and you have a legal problem regarding family/matrimonial, consumer, wills, end-of-life planning, estates administration, landlord/tenant or employment law, the New York City Bar Justice Center may be able to provide you with advice and information. (https://cbjcoi.legalserver.org/modules/matter/extern_intake.php?pid=125&h=84ee0d)

Law Help NY: The search engine generates a list of accessible and affordable legal organizations throughout all 5 boroughs based on information provided regarding region and reason. Database includes a concise and comprehensive description of each legal organization. Visit website (www.lawhelpny.org)
 
Legal Services for New York City: LSNYC provides advice, referral, and representation to low-income workers facing a range of problems, including loss of employment, unpaid wages and overtime pay, employment discrimination, and medical leave issues. Call the Legal Assistance Hotline, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at (917)661-4500 to speak to an intake officer in any language. Visit www.legalservicesnyc.org for more information. LSNYC has
offices in all 5 boroughs.
 
NYC Bar Association: The Legal Referral Service (LRS) provides referrals to screened and qualified lawyers at hotline (212)626-7373. There is no charge to speak to an attorney referral counselor, and a $35 fee for an initial consultation with a LRS lawyer. Appointments for Monday Night Law, free 30 minute consultations with volunteer lawyers, can be made at the hotline. Visit www.nycbar.org for more information.
Legal Aid Society of New York: The Legal Aid Society offers legal services to low-wage and unemployed workers through direct legal service, individual projects, and city-wide programs. Legal Aid specializes in workplace discrimination, amongst other aspects of criminal law, civil law, juvenile law, and law reform. To reach the Employment Law Unit, call (888)218-6970. For general assistance, call (212)577-3300. Visit www.legalaidnyc.org for more information. Legal Aid has offices in all 5 boroughs, and the Employment Law Unit is located in Manhattan.

Mobilization for Justice
: Mobilization for Justice offers free legal assistance to low-income individuals regarding issues in a variety of areas, including employment, government benefits, immigration, and bankruptcy. Visit the “Get Help” page at www.mobilizationforjustice.org or call (212)417-3700 for more information. For legal advice regarding employment rights, contact the Workplace Justice Unit at (212)417-3838 Monday and Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
 
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): NYLAG’s Employment Law Unit provides advice, consultation, and legal representation to low-wage workers on issues related to employment. Visit www.nylag.org/units/employment-law for more information and/or call (212)613-5000 to speak with a case handler.
 
Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts: Call the Art Law Line at (212)319-2787, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., for advice about legal issues and to schedule a consultation with a staff attorney. Visit https://vlany.org/request-assistance/ to fill out an intake form requesting legal assistance.
 
Lambda Legal: Lambda Legal is dedicated to protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and those living with HIV/AIDS through legal assistance, educational campaigns, and public policy advocacy. Visit www.lambdalegal.org for  information regarding individual rights or access to the Legal Help Desk. The Help Desk provides referrals to an appropriate attorney and general legal advice. To contact the Legal Help Desk in closest proximity, locate the hotline on the website or complete an online form.
 
Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A: Brooklyn A provides civil legal assistance to individuals with incomes that fall at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines. Call (718)487-2300 or visit www.bka.org for more information.

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Housing & Utility Resources

  • Affordable Connectivity Program (Internet)
  • Breaking Ground
  • Energy Affordability Program
  • Entertainment Community Fund Bulletin Board
  • ECF Housing Resource Center
  • FASTEN Funding
  • Home Energy Assistance Fund (HEAP)
  • Listings Project
  •  NYC HPD
  • New York State Electric and Gas Bill Relief Program
  • SCRIE (Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption)
  • Senior Sharing 

 

Miscellaneous Resources

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Grants

  • Foundation for Contemporary Arts (Visual Artists)
  • ​Freelance Artist Resource
  • ​Leveler (peer-to-peer grants from individuals)
  • ​NYFA
  • Elderly or Disabled Living
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Parenting

  • Catholic Charities
  • Maternity & Early Childhood Foundation
  • NYC Mammas Give Back
  • Childcare Financial Assistance
  • Mamatropolis
  • RISE (tech certifications for moms and women of color)
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Medical

  • Cancercare.org (Cancer)
  • Pan Foundation (Serious Illness)
  • Good Days aka Chronic Disease Fund, Inc.
  • Dental Lifeline​

Pets

Other

Side Gigs

  • List of financial assistance for pets
  • Animal Medical Center financial assistance
  • Cyber Seniors (computer help for seniors)
  • Free Charity Cars
  • Wheels From the Heart (for single mothers)
​
  • WeAudition (be a reader for fellow actors. There is a monthly fee of $10 [code EAG25 gets you 25% off] but you can set your own reader rate.)
  • Virtual Babysitters Club (virtual babysitting by professional performers)

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The Episcopal Actors' Guild of America, Inc.
1 East 29th Street - New York, NY 10016 - (212) 685-2927
The Episcopal Actors' Guild (est. 1923) provides emergency aid and support to professional performers of all faiths and none who are undergoing financial crisis. We are also dedicated to helping emerging artists advance their careers through scholarships, awards, and performance opportunities. All services are strictly confidential. Review our Privacy Policy. Photography by Ahron R. Foster
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The Episcopal Actors' Guild is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization.
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  • EMERGENCY AID
    • EARP
    • Other Resources
  • ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES
    • Scholarships
    • Thomas Barbour Award
    • Open Stage Grant
    • Midsummer Play Festival
    • The Intentional Artist
    • Rent Guild Hall
  • Membership
    • Join EAG
    • The Eaglet
    • Join a Committee
    • Make a Pitch to the Events Committee
    • Turnley’s Turns
  • Events
  • DONATE
    • Donate Now
    • Donate Food to The Actors Pantry
    • Volunteer
    • Planned Giving
    • Donor Advised Funds
    • Donate Stock
    • Matching Gift Programs
    • The Scott Glascock-George Holland Society
    • Holly Jolly
  • ABOUT
    • Mission
    • Who We Help
    • Officers and Council
    • Staff
    • History
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Financial Information
    • Visit Guild Hall
    • Blog
  • CONTACT