In response to the urgent needs of the Bay Area arts community Southern Exposure redirected its 2020 Alternative Exposure funds to support local artists and arts groups who are in dire need of emergency support, with funds distributed in early summer 2020. SoEx recognizes that artists are facing unforeseen and potentially catastrophic challenges in 2020 due to canceled and postponed exhibitions, performances, and other gigs and day jobs due to COVID-19.

Southern Exposure, in partnership with the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, has allocated a total of $60,000 to support Bay Area working artists in need. Sixty grants of $1,000 each were awarded to visual and multidisciplinary artists. Priority was given to artists who are Black, Indigenous, POC, elder, LGBTQ+, disabled, immune-compromised, and immigrants. Funds may be used to cover any needed expenses. Due to the nature of this round of funding, grantees were not publicly announced. 

With assistance from San Francisco Grants for the Arts, Southern Exposure was able to regrant an additional $19,000 for Round 15 in December 2020, for a total of 79 grants and $79,00 distributed in 2020 to Bay Area artists in need.