Tag: Creatives Rebuild NY (CRNY)

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

News/Announcements: JOVM Could Use Your Help/Shoutouts to Patreon Patrons, Creatives Rebuild New York and Asian Arts Initiative

I’m going to be unflinchingly honest here. A few months ago, I thought I had landed a dream job: I was going to be working for a well-regarded label and distributor, doing work closely related to my work here with JOVM. We’re talking about great benefits. Generous vacation time. And the sort of payday that would make my life and existence much more comfortable.

Me and my dearest ones were absolutely thrilled beyond measure. Finally, a lot of hard work and sacrifice has paid off! Unfortunately, it all turned out to be a horrible scam. 46 has been awesome, y’all. Sigh.

Because of this scam, my bank account is currently overdrawn. On top of that, I haven’t been able to get regular work in almost a year. Trying to get full-time work is more difficult than ever: ATS. Ghost jobs. 10,000 people applying to the same position as you within a few hours of a listing posting on a job site. Add the networking that sometimes gets nowhere. I’ve managed to get a handful of interviews, but lately, it hasn’t gone beyond the first or second round.

My landlord is threatening to evict me and my mother. I’m having difficulties continuing this site, too. Although, I’ve been able to get by here and there with a little help from my friends, as the song says, I’m financially tapped out. So I’m asking y’all for your help. If you’ve got leads for full-time, part-time, project temporary, contact or project-based editorial, writing and/or photography work, please feel free to reach out.

If you can regularly support JOVM through Patreon or through a one time donation, I will be grateful. Any and all amounts are appreciated. Seriously.

Now, as you know, JOVM turns 15 next month. Yes, 15 y’al! When I started this site, I honestly felt and believed that I really had no choice but to go out on my own. From my own experience, I didn’t believe that I’d get a fair shot to do what I’ve wanted to do on this site with another outlet.

I’ve long felt a desire to create something inspired and informed by the wildly eclectic, dynamic, global sort of environment I grew up immersed in as a Black boy from Corona, Queens. I didn’t regularly see the environment and music I heard around me represented in the music magazines and sites that I followed and loved to read. I always felt that was odd and a significant weakness because — well, there’s quite a bit of amazing music out there that’s just not getting the love and attention it should be receiving whether nationally or internationally. 

With this site, I’ve managed to carve out a unique path for myself — and in the blogosphere. Because music media — and generally the media world — is an incredibly homogeneous space, the coverage that you see as a consumer and fan tends to come from a startling similar perspective. Look at the editorial staff at your favorite music magazine, blog or website. Tell me what you see. And when you do see some degree of diversity, it was after many years of fighting, complaining and cajoling — and worse yet, it’s usually in a very limited fashion. It explains why you’ll see the same coverage of the same batches of artists, genres and styles with little difference and less variety. 

I’m going to be frank here: With this current administration, things are going to be extremely difficult for marginalized communities, for artists and the arts, for small, independent media outlets, small businesses and for countless others. We’re already seeing large corporations and media outlets bending the knee to fascists out of greed and fear. So it’ll be imperative upon all of you who are financially able and willing to support the work and efforts of artists, creators, writers and thinkers in marginalized groups: Yes, folks of color — especially women. LGBTQ+ folks. Indigenous folks. Latinos and latinas. Asians. Immigrants. And on and on. This is in addition to those folks who are suffering through the incalculable tragedies of climate change-driven disaster and other calamities. 

If you dig their work or you dig a specific cause, and you’re able to support financially, please give to their Patreon, their GoFundMe, OnlyFans or whatever they’re using for donations and tips. Trust me, every single dollar counts, is useful and appreciated. You’ll feel good supporting the blood, sweat and tears of decent, hardworking folks who could really use it, while teaching greedy, craven and spineless assholes some key lessons. A win in my books.

I understand that things are tough for folks. A lot of people are struggling to survive with their dignity intact. If you’re unable to give money, the other way you can support is to amplify these voices. Tell your friends about these artists, influencers, thinkers and causes, and get them to follow them, too. Extra eyeballs to the work really matters — sometimes, it’s someone else who could support through cash. Other times, it’s someone who will faithfully read or follow that person’s work. Or they’ll happily proselytize your causes and your work to others. 

To that end, with your support, I can keep this going. Now, as you know, I’ve said this many times: All work — including creative work — is impossible without money. After all, time is money. Effort is money. Then add all the expenses it takes to actually work. So, if you’ve been frequenting this site over the past handful of years, there are a handful of folks I want to thank once again for their support:  

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Every and any amount really helps keeps this sort of journalism and criticism alive and ongoing. So if you’re able and willing, please feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. 

Additionally, I have to thank the helpful, hardworking and dedicated folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m proud, gratified and humbled to have been included in their 18-month Guaranteed Income for Artists program. Understandably, being included was also deeply vindicating. Someone out there thought my work — this very work! — was worth supporting financially. Obviously, the funds from it have managed to keep this labor of love going during one of the most uncertain periods in recent human history, while lessening some of the normal financial pressures of being an American artist, creator and journalist. 

I also found out about Asian Arts Initiative’s Sound Type Workshop through Creatives Rebuild New York. So, I just can’t thank those folks enough. And I’ll forever be in their debt. 

I must thank the folks at the Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia for selecting me for the Sound Type Music Writer Workshop. Being a part of the inaugural cohort was an honor. 

Of course, there are other ways you can support. 

You can also support by checking the JOVM shop. I sell prints in various sizes. I also have bumper stickers. Check it out: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_ruben_helms 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yankee32879 and https://www.twitter.com/joyofviolent 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

And you can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.

One-time donations are also appreciated.

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News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

12 years ago this month, I started what has been for me — my life’s work.

And honestly, when I started this site, I couldn’t have imagined three-quarters of the things I’ve done and experienced over JOVM’s history to ever happen.

  • I’ve covered roughly 1,100-1,200 shows in NYC, with a handful of shows in Chicago and Baltimore. 
  • I’ve covered about a dozen or more festivals, including traveling to Montreal for M for Montreal back in 2019. 
  • I’ve been a panelist at Mondo.NYC Festival and at New Colossus Festival, speaking about PR, promotion and press for indie artists, giving my perspective as a indie blogger. 
  • A few years ago, I made a cameo in a JOVM mainstay’s music video. It’s a very noticeable spot towards the end of the video. It was a fun experience, but so far no one has called me about acting gigs. Maybe I need to stick to the writing and photography? 
  • I couldn’t have imagined photographing George Clinton, Patti LaBelle, Snoop Dogg, Blondie, Nile Rodgers, Roky Erickson, Philip Bailey, Blind Boys of Alabama and so many others, as well as this site’s countless mainstays.
  • I wouldn’t have met the countless colleagues and musicians, who have become supporters and friends. And by far, music friends have proven to be the very best of friends. 

JOVM turned 10 in June 2020. And during the middle of the very worst of the pandemic, things seemed — understandably — bleak. And although we’re slowly managed to claw our way back to a degree of normalcy, in which gathering together can happen, things across the music industry still seem rather bleak: Touring has always been a big financial risk for musicians but COVID-19 has made it even more complicated, because musicians are out there risking their health and lives — because they need to make money to live.

We’re all trying to figure out how to maneuver in a new, confusing and uncertain landscape that may well be with us for an indefinite period of time. But with these past 12 years under my belt, I have no intentions of going anywhere.

I strongly believe that I’ve managed to carve out a unique spot in the blogosphere, a place that I feel is desperately necessary because both the music and media worlds are often so incredibly homogenous. Someone out there has to do something different. And representation in every aspect matters. So in many ways, this has to continue.

As I do every month, I want to thank the following folks and organizations. Without them this past few years — and especially this year — wouldn’t have been remotely possible:

Sash

Alice Northover

Bella Fox

Jenny MacRostie

Janene Otten 

All of those folks have been generous Patreon patrons. Of course, feel free to check out the Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement. And if you’re able to support, your support will be greatly appreciated and continuously shouted out. Any amount really helps. Seriously.

I must thank the folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. I’m relieved, proud and humbled to be included in their Guaranteed Income for Artists program. The money I’ll receive over the next 18 months will be put to good use — keeping this little dream of mine going. I don’t think there’s enough words to thank them — or to show how grateful I am. (I’ll keep trying, of course!)

There are other ways you can support.

You can also support by checking the JOVM shop: https://www.joyofviolentmovement.com/shop 

You can also support my following me on the following platforms:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/william_ruben_helms 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/yankee32879 and https://www.twitter.com/joyofviolent 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheJoyofViolentMovement

And you can hire me for headshots, portraits and events. Seriously, I’m available for that, too. You can click here: https://www.photobooker.com/photographer/ny/new-york/william-h?duration=1?duration=1# or you can contact me directly.

News/Announcements by William Ruben Helms

The ideas behind Creatives Rebuild New York (CRNY) aren’t new — but the sense of urgency behind its implementation is very new: Inspired by the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) Artists Project of 1978-1980, Creatives Rebuild New York is an extension of Mellon Foundation President Elizabeth Alexander’s work on the Governor Cuomo’s Reimagine New York Commission in 2021, created as a response to the Coronavirus pandemic. The initiative was further developed in collaboration with Emil J. Kang, Program, Director for Arts and Culture and Creatives Rebuild New York’s Executive Director Sarah Calderon, who was previously managing director of ArtPlace America.

Creatives Rebuild New York officially launched last Spring, as part of a growing national movement of broad-based employment programs that put artists back to work. All of these vital relief programs have helped thousands of artists maintain their artistic practices and maintain their livelihoods while mitigating financial disaster, heavily influenced by the pandemic.

Rooted in the belief that improving the lives of artists is paramount to the vitality of New York State’s collective social and economic well-being, Creative Rebuild New York’s programs build further upon COVID-19 relief, to envision longer-term, sustainable opportunities for artists across the State.

Sponsored by Tides Center and funded The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Ford Foundation and The Stavros Niachros Foundation, Creatives Rebuild New York has two programs as part of its mission:

  • CRNY’s Artist Employment Program (AEP): A 2-year program that will fund employment for 300 artists working collaboration with community-based organizations across New York State. Participating artist will receive a salary of $65,000 per year (commensurate with the median household income in the state), plus benefits and decimated time to focus on their artistic practice. Community-based organizations will receive $25,000-$100,000 per year to support their collaboration with those artists.
  • CRNY’s Guaranteed Income for Artists: An 18-month program that will provide, regular, no-strings attached cash payments for artists in the state, who have — and of course, show — financial need. Each artist selected receives $1,000 per month. The Guaranteed Income for Artists program aims to help artists meet their basic needs outside of traditional or merit-based grants. This program, is part of a larger national discussion that municipalities, policymakers, community leaders and activities across the country are engaging in about guaranteed income and economic stability for those, who are living with financial need.

Late last year, I came across a friend and colleague’s Instagram story, which mentioned Creatives Rebuild New York. I looked up their website and immediately saved their homepage on my browser history and began following them on Facebook. Back in February, they opened up applications to the public — and I put in an application as quickly as I could.

Some 60,000 artists and creatives applied. In mid April, I learned that I was pre-selected for the Guaranteed Income for Artists program. After going through a detailed background and income check, I got an email the other day from CRNY that said that I was one of those 2,400 folks receiving the income grant. I actually needed a few days to put my thoughts together because I was feeling a lot of different things – – including, relief, vindication, pride, satisfaction.

This money will help me continue my work with JOVM — and for that, I feel it’ll be life changing. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that CRNY won’t regret it. So, thank you folks at Creatives Rebuild New York. Thank you so very much.