Music in Hamilton

• Government of Canada
• Canadian Revenue Agency: Helping Canadians with the economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Response 
• City of Hamilton COVID-19 Information & Updates: Hamilton Public Health Services (PHS) is taking steps to protect the health and safety of our community by working with our health system partners and Ministry of Health colleagues to ensure we are prepared to respond to this situation as it evolves.
• CBC Arts: Help and support for Canadian artists and freelancers (information regularly updated)
• Music Canada: Online survey for musicians to provide feedback to help Music Canada understand and capture artists’ experience and convey their stories to all levels of government. 

• Government of Canada
• Government of Ontario
• Hamilton COVID-19 Business Continuity & Recovery Information: The City of Hamilton and Chambers of Commerce have created a microsite to provide business resources and information, as well as ways to directly contact City and Chamber staff throughout the pandemic.
• The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce is also hosting regular virtual meetings, with live Q & A and information updates.

• If you have equipment or facilities that can be rapidly re-tooled to meet medical needs, including for personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks and surgical gowns; and other medical equipment and supplies, The Federal Government wants to hear from you.
• Canadian Live Music Association: Developed a list of resources for the Canadian Live Music Industry/businesses (regularly updated).

• CanadaPerforms:The National Arts Centre and Facebook Canada launched a new $100,000 partnership aimed at providing financial relief to performing artists whose livelihood has been cut off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ​Artists in any discipline can apply for a $1,000 grant to support a 45 to 60 minute livestream performance planned between March 19 and 31. The funding will come from Facebook Canada. The NAC will receive and administer applications. To apply for the grant, performing artists should submit their name, a description of their performance, the date and the streaming platform (which doesn’t have to be Facebook). 
• Unison COVID-19 Relief Program: The Unison Benevolent Fund and The Slaight Family Foundation have launched the Unison COVID19 Relief Program for those whose work in the Canadian music industry has been impacted and require assistance, please REGISTER for Unison’s services.  Funding will be allocated towards housing costs, medical expenses, and groceries for those in the music industry across Canada. For more information please contact the Unison office by phone 1-855-986-4766, ext. 3 or by email at [email protected]

These programs can give artsits assistance developing or modifying business plans or specific elements of their business, as well as help creating or modifying their short and longer-term plans.

• Digital Main Street Program
  NOTE: The eligibility for this program has been changed due to COVID-19 and is NOW open to any business regardless of geographic location or if you have a storefront location. Open to artists/musicians who are looking for advice on developing or improving your current website or digital strategy.
  ​Digital Main Street is a program that seeks to help small businesses across the community improve their adoption of digital technologies, to ensure continued sales and client connections during this time. The primary goal is to provide business owners free guidance, resources, and recommendations on how to translate their physical brand to a digital space. This program is administered locally through the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. The Digital Service Consultant can assist you in adopting and optimizing digital platforms with services such as:
  • Creating a website
  • Improving your current website
  • Social media set-up and strategy
  • Content creation & idea generation
  • Digital Strategy
  • Online advertising & citations
    
    Please contact Danielle at [email protected] to get started.
• Ontario Presents: Offering to host online phone-based meetings free of charge to any Ontario-based artist, agent, presenters, or other art presenting industry professional who needs to host a meeting but does not have the means to do so. Contact [email protected]
• Reach: Reach is offering free 30-minute meetings over the phone for music industry peers struggling with how to generate content to make money in the interim, and exactly what you can still “get done” remotely while we work through this. Contact Vanessa to schedule a meeting.

• Ontario Arts Council: COVID-19 Updates 
• Canada Council for the Arts: Information for Canada Council for the Arts grant recipients and applicants whose funded projects are impacted by COVID-19.
• Ontario Trillium Foundation: An update on OTF customer service supports during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Ontario Creates: (supports musicians, film and writers) Updates on funding programs, tax credits, and other services available.
• The Writers' Union of Canada: Document your economic losses from the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Canadian Heritage Funding (CHF): Information about CHF funding status.

• Bandzoogle has put together this handy blog about how musicians can ask fans for support during the coronavirus pandemic found.
• I Lost My Gig is a support group on Facebook for folks from various disciplines in the Gig Economy to gather, listen, and share.
• MusicOntario will be reposting various updates, interesting content from the community, streaming events, and other tidbits.
• Music Managers Forum Canada has an incredibly thorough resource page that is constantly updated.
• Worldwide Independent Network has a list of resources for the indie music community across the world.

• Over the Bridge: Invites music makers and community members into a Facebook support group. Join the ‘Over the Bridge’ peer support group here.
• Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA): Offers Mental Health Resources and Mental Health Tips during COVID-19
• COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team). If you're in crisis or having a hard time, please call COAST at 905-972-8338 or KIDS HELP PHONE at 1-800-668-6868 – open 24/7.
• Unison Benevolent Fund: Has information about how they can help, or you can call 1-855-986-4766 for inquiries to help you deal with the financial or emotional impact of coronavirus.

• Canada Council for the Arts: Information about CCA's cancellation policy.
• CAPACOA is asking you to track cancellations affecting the Canadian live performance sector.
• FACTOR: Information about FACTOR's cancellation policy.
• Ontario Arts Council's policies on COVID-19.
• The Syrup Factory - If you or your team needs help navigating any cancellations at this time, please reach out to Sarah at The Syrup Factory, for assistance, free of charge .

Public Health Organizations are the most trusted sources of information for COVID-19. Please follow their recommendations.

• City of Hamilton Public Health Services (PHS)
• Province of Ontario Ministry of Health
• Public Health Ontario
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• World Health Organization