There has been a flurry of activity over the last few weeks from the Government, Arts Council England, and other organisations to help creatives as venues have shut, work has disappeared and with it regular incomes.
Please find below some of the key information about help on offer for you if you are involved in the creative industries. For more information on support for freelancers please click here.
Arts Council England
have launched a £70 million COVID-19 Emergency response Package. There is funding support for organisations and individuals.
For Individuals… there is £20 million available. You can apply for up to £2,500. The support is available for practicing creatives who often have their work publicly funded…you can do a quick eligibility check here (created by Max May of Rural Arts)
For Organisations… there is £50 million available and organisations can apply for a maximum of £35,000. This is available to organisations that are not in receipt of regular funding from the Arts Council BUT those who have applied to National Lottery Project Grants are welcome to apply for this support.
Deadlines
Both funding pots have the same opening and closing deadlines
Round one opens for applications is now open and applicants will need to register on Grantium by 13 April in order to make an application before the deadline of 12pm (midday) 16 April.
Round two opens for applications on 16 April 2020 and applicants will need to register on Grantium by 27 April in order to make an application before the deadline of 30 April.
If you apply to the first round you will not be able to apply to the second round, even if you are unsuccessful in the first round.
Outdoor Arts UK COVID19 Support Fund
ACE has asked OutdoorArtsUK to manage the distribution of £500,000, to ensure that financial assistance reaches people who work in Outdoor Arts in many different capacities, but who do not qualify for other funding streams.
Applications for the fund can be from £500 to £2,500, with an additional £500 for extra costs relating to a disability.
Online applications will open on Thu 9 Apr; deadline: Thu 23 Apr. As the fund is managed directly by OAUK, you do not need to register with Grantium, ACE’s application portal. For guidelines and information please see HERE.
NORTH STAR PROJECT (artist support for applications and advice)
The New Diorama have always worked to support the best artists and companies through difficult times – now, in this moment of crisis, they want to throw support open to whoever needs it across the sector. They are offering a suite of support for artists and companies through COVID-19 and its effects. You can sign up to the mailing list HERE.
Other Grants and funding
• The Artist General Benevolent Fund financially supports professional artists in need and their dependents living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland who cannot work or earn due to accident, illness or older age.
• Film and Television Charity offer advice and one-off grants for urgent and immediate
financial assistance for those in the film, TV and cinema industry.
• Equity Charitable Trust, Educational grants for professional performers to retrain and requalify in a different field, alongside one-off welfare grants for those who find themselves in
critical need.
• Help for Musicians, Offering musicians Health and Welfare grants, Creative development
grants – plus help for those with long-term illness.
• Live Events PSA Stagehand Welfare and Benevolent Fund, small grants to help tide people
over or retrain for those who work in the live event production industry.
• Actors Benevolent Fund for professional actors, actresses, and stage managers. Financial
assistance for those unable to work due to injury, illness or old age, with household
expenses, including a regular weekly payment and contributions towards bills and
sometimes assistance with one-off payments for items such as disability aids or kitchen
appliances.
• PRS Member’s Fund Provide support and advice to PRS members (7 years or £500 of
royalties) and their families, who may be struggling financially, physically or emotionally and
are in need of help.
• Dance fund: Financial grants to dance professionals of all ages.
• Authors’ Emergency Fund, grants of up to £2,000.
• Live Nation have announced a $10m global relief fund for live music crew members. They
will be contacting those they know are affected over the next few weeks and info on how to
apply will be announced soon.
• Help Musicians has launched a Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund, putting up £5 million to help musicians pay ongoing household expenses. Eligible musicians will be able to apply for a one-off payment of £500.
• The Martin Lewis Fund is providing grants of £5,000 to £20,000 to small registered charities, or local arms of bigger charities, across the UK.
• Prince’s Trust Grants for those aged 16 – 30 Studying less than 14 hours a week, unemployed
or working less than 16 hours a week – for course fees, tools, equipment or uniforms for a
job or qualification, job licence fees and transport to a new job until your first payslip.
• Royal Variety Charity for all people that have worked professionally in the entertainment
industry, financial assistance, plus residential and care home.
• The Royal Society of Musicians – All applications to the Society are considered in confidence. Help may be offered in many ways, whether it be living expenses, rehabilitation, counselling, referrals to specialised practitioners, or consultations with financial advisors.
• Acting for Others: offers emotional and financial support to theatre workers.
• a-n Artist Bursaries: Time-Space Money, plus financial support for artists and arts organisers.
• The Actors’ Children’s Trust gives money and advice to actor-parents and their children.
• £200 Emergency fund for Musical Union members.
• Bridging the Gap is offering bursaries for freelancers and small or community-based arts
organisations.
• Grants of up to £10,000 are available from Youth Music for music-making organisations
affected by COVID19
by Ellen Waghorn, Senior Producer at Watford Palace Theatre