Struggling artists are receiving money from the government and the University of Wyoming’s Associate Jazz Instructor Ben Markley’s Big Band.
“We benefit from art in the good times and the bad,” said Ben Markley, the Director of Jazz Studies at the University of Wyoming.
As the pandemic rages on continuing its hold on social distancing, musical artists are without an audience and, therefore, any way to further their work. There is an estimated $4.8 billion dollar impact with $38,000 estimated per organization impact, according to Americans For The Arts as of April 24.
Many artist’s major sources of income, such as museums, stores, and studios, have been shut down due to social distancing concerns and shutdown orders. This leaves many artists without any form of income.
“The whole point is to ask folks to help these throughout the video to help raise awareness for these artists,” said Markley. He saw other groups doing this and decided to create his Big Band.
The Artist Relief Fund serves to assist artists struggling in a financial emergency with a $5,000 grant. This grant was put together by a coalition of national arts grantmakers.
Ben Markley decided to support struggling artists during this pandemic. Markley put together a Big Band featuring 16 musicians from across the nation and adapting his original tunes to do this. All 16 Musicians can be found compiled on Youtube playing Markley’s “‘Mon Back.”
The video can be found here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKgIS1u32qY.
“The biggest thing is to share the video because that is where the links and the information is,” said Markley. With the video already reaching traction with 1,300 views and being featured on television as of noon April 24, two days from its release.
The Big Band consists of friends and musicians Markley has met at various stages of his career. All money received from the Big Band and Markley’s efforts is sent to two organizations, ArtistsRelease.org and Wyoming Arts Alliance, to help struggling artists.
