Mission
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) provides craft artists with support and resources for disaster and emergency relief, education programs, and readiness grants to strengthen preparedness. Committing to generosity, inclusion, and care, we advocate for the thrive-ability of craft artists and craft as an art form.
What We Do
Every artist needs a support network
It takes a village…
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund is rooted in the idea of mutual aid, where individuals unite to support one another during difficult times. Our commitment to generosity, inclusion, and care manifests in the way we organize resources, interact, communicate, and connect with others. This concept emphasizes the importance of community, ensuring that everyone has the resources needed to thrive. This commitment is central to our vision of an equitable, thriving, and supportive craft community. It's about shared passion and purpose. We know we can’t be everything to everyone, but we are determined to do our best at what we do. We support the work of others in this community as we advocate together for the ability of craft artists to thrive.
Grants to Support Artists
We provide two types of grants - Emergency Relief and Readiness - to support craft artists. Emergency Relief grants assist artists after a disaster or emergency, and Readiness (Get Ready) grants help artists to be better prepared in case they experience a future disaster or emergency. We offer educational resources and training for craft artists around the country. We work with other craft organizations and the larger arts and culture sector to share knowledge and advocate in support of craft artists and craft as an art form.
It takes a village to make it happen and we are proud to do our part.
The Craft Emergency Relief Fund is a 501(c)(3) public charity.
Our History
In 1985, the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+) was co-founded by Carol Sedestrom Ross, then President of American Craft Enterprises, and glassblower Josh Simpson. They recognized the inherent generosity within the craft community, often demonstrated when artists would “pass the hat” to collect funds during shows and exhibitions to support fellow artists experiencing emergencies.
Over the years, we expanded this grassroots effort through the leadership of long-time Executive Director Cornelia Carey to include funding for readiness activities, in-kind equipment support, and advocacy for better access to resources through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). We developed educational materials and launched the Studio Protector, a collection of online resources to guide artists on how to safeguard their workspaces and studios. Carey retired after 26 years of service in 2022.
In 2022, with new leadership in place, Executive Director Ruby Lopez Harper, the organization embraced becoming a fully remote organization, making great progress in improving the workplace environment. With our staff and board spread across the country, we are able to engage in local communities throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. It also has reduced our carbon footprint and enhanced our ability to be climate-conscious in operations.
In the years ahead, we look forward to continuing to expand our commitment to being a participatory organization. We are committed to being inclusive and equitable, ensuring that resources are distributed to the artists who need them most. We are determined to keep doing better, together.
Support CERF+
Invest in the thriveability of craft artists.
Donations to CERF+ are a powerful way to provide direct support to craft artists and can continue to provide stability and relief to the craft community nationwide.