How can we help artists?

Dave Von Bieker has started a site called YEG Streams that gathers up live-streams from artists (mostly musicians so far) so you can still enjoy their work. "Many of these streams will include information about supporting the artists financially," Von Bieker writes on his FAQ. "Often, artists use a ‘tip jar’ – for example a Paypal.me link." Gig City has listed some other musical live streams, and CBC Music suggests five ways to help musicians.

The Citadel is inviting artists to put on performances in its Stuck-in-the-House Series, which will be live-streamed on its Facebook page. The artists will be paid a fee through an Edmonton Community Foundation grant, but you can top up what they get by donating. 

Fringe stalwart Chase Padgett has launched Digital Fringe, where you can buy access to videos of 10 Fringe shows, with the proceeds going to the artists. You can also take in these virtual performances, many of which accept donations:

• The Playwrights Guild of Canada is hosting a seven-hour live Play Reading Relay on March 27. It includes Edmonton playwrights such as Farren Timoteo, Beth Graham, and Katherine Koller.
• Malachite Theatre is putting on Shakespeare Sundays.
• Grindstone Theatre has put the complete performance of last year's Fringe show (Thunder)CATS on YouTube.
• DIE-Nasty is improvising a weekly radio hour on Mondays.
• House of Hush Burlesque is doing live streams, too.

If you had tickets to a local performance that has since been cancelled, you can donate what you paid to help the company continue to survive. Edmonton Opera, whose production of Candide was cancelled just before it opened, will issue tax receipts for the price of your tickets unless you ask for a refund or credit. And Northern Light Theatre is running an online auction.

NeWest Press will discount its ebooks in April and May, and notes independent bookstores that offer local deliveries. The Book Publishers Association of Alberta has published a resource page.

The Alberta Arts Matter Coalition's Facebook page is sharing information and opportunities as well. And the Canadian Network for Arts and Learning has put together a resource guide to inform artists about support and advocacy efforts during the pandemic.

For more on what's going on in Edmonton's arts community during the pandemic, subscribe to Taproot's Arts Roundup, curated by Fawnda Mithrush, and Music Roundup, curated by Emily Rendell-Watson.