Funding Opportunities For Creatives In Light Of Covid-19
By Something CuratedIn light of the present health crisis, and the on-going lockdown it has prompted, a number of cultural organisations and grassroots initiatives have launched funds to support in-need creatives working across diverse fields. Something Curated highlights eight such funding opportunities, along with links to apply to them.
Arts Council England’s Emergency Fund for Individuals (9 April 2020 deadline)
Arts Council England are making £20 million available to individuals working in the cultural sector, including artists, creative practitioners and freelancers. Those supported include choreographers, writers, translators, producers, editors, freelance arts educators, composers, directors, designers, artists, craft makers and curators. Round one opens for applications on 9 April 2020 and applicants will need to register 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 by 27 April in order to make an application before the deadline of 30 April.
ILYSM explains, “We’re a community of creatives, and it’s our mission to support artists and give them the opportunities they deserve. We launched our brand and creative studio in December 2019 – we’re finding our footing in the world as we make sneakers and merch to support our mission. We are artists, filmmakers, writers, designers, freelancers. We know what it’s like to live pay cheque to pay cheque, and we know our community is struggling right now. We recognize that art is a meaningful form of comfort – especially in such times of crisis. We’re a tiny new brand, but we want to do what we can to support you all. We will be giving a weekly $500 grant to an artist with financial need whose main source of income has been affected by COVID-19 shutdowns. We are committing to offering this grant through the week of 5/14 and for as long as we are able to after that.”
UK QTIPOC Emergency Relief Fund
This emergency relief and hardship fund has been set up to provide short term support to Queer, Trans and Intersex, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (QTIBIPOC) currently living in the UK who are affected by the outbreak and ongoing lockdown caused by Covid-19. It has been set up to support those who are immunocompromised, chronically ill, asthmatic, in quarantine or elderly as well as those in precarious and threatening financial situations due to the official lockdown imposed in the UK on March 23rd 2020.
Culture in Quarantine (8 April 2020 deadline)
The Space has announced The Culture in Quarantine fund, which will commission 25 artists to make video, audio or interactive work for broadcast on BBC channels initially. It must be inspired by present conditions of social isolation and be ready for broadcast before the end of July. Please note the short deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 8 April.
a-n Artist Bursaries: Time Space Money + financial support for artists and arts organisers
To help support Artist members whose livelihoods have been impacted by Coronavirus Covid-19, a-n is bringing the application process forward for the next round of a-n Artist Bursaries, and working with Arts Council England to distribute £300,000 of financial support for artists and arts organisers who make exhibitions happen. Full details of both programmes to be announced soon.
Artquest WFH Residency (1 July 2020 deadline)
Reliant on the gig economy for income as technicians, visiting tutors, and in jobs outside of the arts, this residency provides financial support for artists and encourages digital, community-focussed activity while following current government guidelines around social distancing. The WFH Residency (standing for ‘working from home’) will pay artists who have had arts projects or other work cancelled, or have been made unemployed, as result of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. It will particularly support projects that take a co-operative or communal approach and connect people while social distancing.
Help Musicians Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund
Help Musicians has launched the Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund, a new offering specifically created to alleviate some of the immediate financial pressures that many professional musicians may currently be facing. The impact of the Coronavirus on musicians’ lives and careers is unprecedented, and it’s been recognised that the charity’s normal person-centred approach of Health & Welfare support needs to be boosted in this exceptional period to give as many musicians as possible immediate financial relief. A fund of £5m has therefore been created to help reduce the worry many musicians are experiencing about their mounting household expenses. Eligible musicians are able to apply for a one-off payment of £500 through an online form.
Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund
The BFI and The Film and TV Charity have partnered to create a new industry-backed Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund to help support the creative community, which like many industries, has been devastated by the pandemic. Established with a £1m donation from Netflix, the new Covid-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund will be administered by The Film and TV Charity with support from the BFI, and will provide emergency short-term relief to the many thousands of active workers and freelancers who have been directly affected by the closure of productions across the UK.
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