NOTICE: Unfortunately, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, CoveyLaw must temporarily suspend accepting applications for new grants to the Tamizdat Access Fund. Grants that have already been approved will be honored. The fund will resume operation as soon as possible. Please contact us if you have any questions. 

In the spirit of the mission of Tamizdat, the non-profit from which CoveyLaw grew, CoveyLaw commits more than $100,000 a year to the Tamizdat Access Fund, designed to reduce visa costs for eligible artists whose work best reflects our commitment to promoting new and independent artists, diversity in the performing arts, environmental sustainability, and community outreach, especially to underserved communities.

The program seeks to support projects in the performing arts that…

• bring international culture to underserved communities in the U.S.;
• have limited resources for artist compensation;
• provide performances that are either free to the public or are presented at educational institutions;
• promote diversity of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, or gender identity; and  
• reduce carbon footprint by minimizing international travel.

All CoveyLaw’s performing arts clients are invited to apply to the fund through a very simple online application form; applications will be evaluated quickly—usually within 48 hours. Recipients will receive a $750 credit towards the filing of a single O-1, P-1, or P-3 case, or a $1350 credit towards the filing of simultaneously filed O-1 and O-2, P-1 and P-1S, or P-3 and P-3S cases. Applications will be reviewed continuously throughout the year but should be submitted when cases are first initiated.

This program replaces CoveyLaw’s non-profit discount. Many performing arts projects that previously would have been ineligible for CoveyLaw’s nonprofit discount will now be eligible for Tamizdat Access grants. Conversely, some organizations that previously received Coveylaw’s nonprofit discount may now find that certain projects do not qualify for a Tamizdat Access grant. We are aware that these latter cases may create hardship where budgets have already been submitted long in advance; if this is your situation, we will be flexible as we transition into this new program. 

Student and Teacher Performers are not eligible for Tamizdat Access grants. This includes cases where a performing artist is in student visa status (or recently was) and is seeking O-1B status, or where a performing artist is principally seeking an O-1B to allow them to teach.

To be considered for the grant, please complete this form. Upon completion of the application below, clients will usually be informed whether or not they receive the grant within two working days. Please direct questions about the fund to your attorney.

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