EMERGENCY FUNDING & CHARITIES FOR FREELANCE ARTISTS
Last Updated 15/6/20
Turn2us A national charity providing financial support to help people get back on track.
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/?_ga=2.160576318.203700796.1591205757-1745284018.1591205757
They are a national charity providing financial support to help people get back on track. There is a search function for a variety of funds - as ever, if you'd like support and guidance to make any sort of funding application please let us know and we are happy to help.
Terrible Rage.com
Donate - https://terriblerage.cargo.site
Claim - https://terriblerage.cargo.site/About-Us
“…a small peer-supported fund to help artists with immediate financial difficulties. There is no age/geographic limitation to this fund. It's just a simple gesture, a helping hand to cover bills or essential costs during this difficult time.”
PIPA (Parents & Carers in Performing Arts)
Coronavirus (Covid-19) – Help and Support for Performing Arts Professionals
Financial Aid (Non-Government) for Performing Arts Professionals.
Both good lists of various different resources.
FFF (Funds for Freelancers)
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/fundsforfreelancers
A financial resource for actors, creative, ushers working in theatre.
Acting for Others
https://www.actingforothers.co.uk
A group of 14 charities providing aid to all theatre workers
a-n – The Artists Information Company
Open for applications from artists and arts organisers who work in a self-employed capacity to support the production of exhibitions and art work and who have lost work due to Coronavirus Covid-19, this £300,000 fund has been made available by Arts Council England and is distributed by a-n.
Equity Charitable Trust
http://www.equitycharitabletrust.org.uk/coronavirusemergencysupport/
For all freelance professional performers and those who work in the theatre profession on a freelance basis. You are eligible if you have previously worked on an Equity contract, but you do not need to be an Equity member in order to apply.
Equity Benevolent Fund
https://www.equity.org.uk/about/benevolent-fund/how-to-get-help/
For full Equity members - including graduates, long service, life and child members.
Typical grants are for urgent one-off expenses such as bills - water, electricity, food, heating etc.
Equity is also able to help existing members with the cost of their membership subscription during the Covid-19 crisis (in most circumstances). Please email: subs-help@equity.org.uk
Support for any kind of stage technician or engineer; company and stage managers; stagehands; anyone involved in costume, hair or makeup; designers and makers of sets, props and puppets; and ushers or box office staff. Applications can be made via a short online form. There is no current guidance on criteria or amounts you can apply for.
http://www.royalvarietycharity.org/news/detail/assistance-for-those-affected-by-covid-19
“uniquely positioned to provide financial assistance to anyone who serves any facet of the Entertainment Industry, should they find themselves experiencing unforeseen financial hardship as a result of ill-health.”
You can download an application form from online or contact them directly via email.
Technical Theatre Staff Support Fund
Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund
https://www.roh.org.uk/about/benevolent-fund
Applicants can be anyone who has worked for the Royal Opera House or Birmingham Royal Ballet or their dependents. Also open to individuals who have worked for any other charity or organization that gives public performances of opera, ballet, or music.
English National Opera Benevolent Fund
https://eno.org/about/eno-benevolent-fund/
Applicants can be anyone who has been employed by English National Opera, Welsh National Opera or Sadlers Wells.
Help Immigrant Freelance Artists for Theatre
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-immigrant-freelance-artists-for-theatre
Brooklyn based theatre designer raising money for freelance immigrant designers (OPT and O1 Visas) impacted by COVID-19 who are not citizens but are legally allowed to work in the U.S.
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FUNDING THROUGH ART
Artist Support Pledge (Instagram)
Info - https://www.theartnewspaper.com/blog/artists-support-pledge
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/artistsupportpledge/?hl=en
How to - http://matthewburrows.org/how-to
Art Technician Emergency Fund (This has now closed but useful reference)
https://www.jumblebee.co.uk/arttechniciansemergencyfund
Silent auction of donated artworks to support UK art technicians who have lost their livelihoods due to Covid-19. The fund is also asking artists to donate artworks.
Fiercewomenart “Terrible Art, Good Intentions”
https://www.instagram.com/fiercewomenart/
“We paint fierce women, sometimes terribly. For every piece sold 100% goes to Refuge (For women and children. Against domestic violence.)
Contemporary Art Society Rapid Response Fund
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/rapidresponsefund
The fund, which is offering artist designed face masks by David Shrigley, Eddie Peake, Linder and Yinka Shonibare as rewards, will be used to buy artworks by UK-based artists and donated to local museums and galleries across the country, who will use these works to welcome back their communities as lockdown restrictions are relaxed.
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OTHER CREATIVE SUPPORT
School of Scenography
https://linktr.ee/schoolofscenography
“Online courses, training, live events, book recommendations, resources to extend creative skills. A place to share design ideas, set/costume opportunities, identify rights & responsibilities of a Designer
Improbable (Devoted and Disgruntled)
https://us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a5189ca3fc76859d6e74c21e3&id=77f8eccbb7
Devoted and Disgruntled are planning the second round of their online conversation events. To be kept up to date, you can sign up to the Improbable Newsletter.
The Envelope Room Support Resources
http://www.enveloperoom.org.uk/resources.html
Unlockdown/Theatre Recovery + Reinvention (Google spreadsheet)
Spreadsheet of resources (articles, resources, events) by Bethany Wells (@preparedtobe). Open for others to also contribute.
Reinventing the Performing Arts post COVID-19 (Facebook group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/559083671701125/
“a springboard for different practitioners from different countries to speak up, share and maybe cross-pollinate what is to be the new exciting future.”
The Isolation Collective
https://isolationcollective.wixsite.com/mysite
https://www.instagram.com/the_isolation_collective/
“This will be a space to showcase work, share playlists and book recommendations… are you writing a script? Making puppets? Learning a new skill? Moved a show or classes online? Tell us and we can help share your work, give us a shout and we can have a chat!”
Whitecard Collective
https://www.facebook.com/groups/535746323995495/
“This is a platform for recent graduate Theatre designers to connect. To share ideas, thoughts, support and concerns during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Isolation Art School (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/isolationartschool/
‘an art school for all by all’. The idea was inspired by the Artist Support Pledge and will feature projects, lessons and tips by artists to help people get creative while housebound during Covid-19 crisis. Artists can get involved by posting a short free creative project, a short lesson or tip, with the aim to encourage everyone to ‘try their hand at something they never had the time for before’.
Conscious Isolation
https://www.instagram.com/consciousisolation/
Offering free tutorials to art students who have lost access to their facilities due to Covid-19. Tutorials take place every Wednesday, 4-6pm. The group is also running a regular Fine Art Lecture series
Scottish Contemporary Art Network Survey
https://sca-net.org/news-feed/view/our-statement-covid-impact-survey-and-what-were-doing-next
Shows how long-term impacts of Covid-19 put Scotland’s inspiring visual art scene at risk.
Anti-viral work for freelancers and small businesses (Facebook group)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/142964673673928/
A cross sector Facebook group set up ‘in response to the severe impact of COVID-19 on the self-employed’. The group aims to ‘help share the voices of the self-employed community and rally for change’.
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USEFUL PAGES & WEBSITES
Inc Arts UK: Diversity & Inclusion in the Arts – Creating a new arts sector, post – COVID-19
https://incarts.uk/news-and-views
Inc Arts UK: Diversity & Inclusion in the Arts – Mental Health Support, Inclusion in the workplace: Guides, Toolkits & Research
Stage Sight
Exuent Magazine – Covid-19 Resources for UK Theatre
http://exeuntmagazine.com/features/covid-19-resources-uk-theatre-freelancers/
MIF - Resources for Artists and Freelancers
https://mif.co.uk/resources-for-freelance-creatives/
Creative Industries Federation
https://www.creativeindustriesfederation.com/news/guidance-sector-freelance-and-self-employed
Guidance for freelancers and self employed. A really useful page of guidance and resources.
Society of British Theatre Designers
http://www.theatredesign.org.uk
Equity – Updates & Advice
Bectu – Coronavirus Advice
https://bectu.org.uk/coronavirus-support/
Creative Scotland – Coronavirus Updates
Independent Theatre Council (ITC) Blog
https://www.itc-arts.org/blog?fbclid=IwAR3vjkhESqpPDcEWDmwUURi_NhCXnlz3DIrotnu65lIs_bseLGkvJsOJIzs
Arts Council Covid-19 Support
- https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19
Grants Online – Arts, Culture & Heritage
https://www.grantsonline.org.uk/news/arts-culture-and-heritage/
a-n – The Artists Information Company
Useful info, support, and news from the art community.
The Art Newspaper
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/coronavirus-resources
Coronavirus resources