Here’s how you can help Puerto Rican musicians and artists recovering from Hurricane Maria

Puerto Rican artists in New York City have launched the Puerto Rico Independent Musicians and Artists Relief Fund to help out musicians in the wake of the natural disaster.

November 06, 2017

In the wake of Hurricane Maria, many people in Puerto Rico are still left without clean water and power. In response to the disaster, a group of Puerto Rican musicians and artists living in New York City have come together to launch the Puerto Rico Independent Musicians and Artists Relief Fund in order to offer aid to artists and musicians on the island.

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Through San Juan-based publication Puerto Rico Indie, songwriter Ani Cordero and Raquel Berrios and Luis Alfredo Del Valle, of indie-electronic band Buscabella, launched the effort as a way to get resources directly into the hands of these artists and musicians. Their partnership also comes by way of Bronx-based non-profit Pregones Puerto Rican Traveling Theater

As Berrios explains, “Artists are already leaving the island, because the situation is tremendously difficult. Musicians have lost equipment, studios, gigs, homes, and many have lost all income. The independent musician’s way of life was already difficult, and after the disaster they cannot continue without immediate, direct help. The reality is, that there is no power in most of the island, little access to clean water and food, and this threatens this entire community. We want to support the music community and preserve it, and the first step is to provide emergency financial aid.”

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Learn more about PRIMA and donate directly to Puerto Rican artists and musicians here.

Thumbnail image: Richard Arduengo / Getty Images.

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Here’s how you can help Puerto Rican musicians and artists recovering from Hurricane Maria