On Friday we reported on a pop-up virtual charity concert hosted by Imagine MKE to raise funds for the MKE Artist Relief Fund, a new charity that promises to provide small grants for Milwaukee artists affected by disruptions due to COVID-19.
That concert featured Lex Allen, Zed Kenzo, Rexxx and Bay View Massacre (if you missed it you can stream it here) and raised nearly $3,700 for the fund. And now the charity is preparing to distribute those funds.
Artists in need are welcome to apply through Imagine MKE's website for up to $500. Any artist in Milwaukee County is eligible.
If you're interested in donating to the fund, you can do so here. As of early Tuesday afternoon the fund has raised more than $4,600 of its $5,000 goal.
"We are also working with our local, state, and federal advocacy partners and elected officials to ensure that our arts and culture community is both supported through this crisis and leveraged as an integral partner for recovery and healing," the organizers write in their fundraising pitch. "You can help us with this effort by s ending an email to your elected officials about how COVID-19 is affecting the arts and culture community."
Stream Friday's concert below (it starts after the four minute mark).