Covid 19 - resources for artists and freelancers
Many artists will be experiencing uncertainty about their livelihoods due to the current Covid-19 pandemic - particularly those who are self-employed. We have been heartened to see the swift response from arts organisations keen to provide support.
We have collated resources from a range of organisations, to give you a one-stop-shop for support, advice and reassurance during this challenging period.
Organisations
- Our friends at AN have shared information and guidance for artists and arts organisers.
- Artquest have collated artist-led projects and resources including networks, financial support and visual artist networks.
- The Creative Industries Federation are offering a free membership for six months. You can also sign their petition asking the government to create an emergency fund for freelancers during the pandemic.
- Voluntary Arts are running #CreativeNetwork, a daily online chat for those working in arts and culture to speak through issues and make connections with other creatives.
- Creative Boom have also launched a forum to bring the creative community together.
- Arts Professional have launched a new, free series on their website Covid Culture, with tips on money management and looking after your mental health during the pandemic.
- Disability-led organisation Shape have compiled a twitter thread of support for both disabled and non-disabled art workers, from information on funding through to creative prompts to complete whilst in isolation.
- Disability Arts are offering free artist development sessions on developing and budgeting your projects as well as making connections with organisations.
- Independent Arts Projects have collated a series of benefits, statements and resources for arts workers.
- The National Union of Journalists have shared a template letter to your MP asking for freelancer access to statutory sick pay.
Artist-led projects
- Artists and creatives are curating an extensive online resource to help freelancers during the pandemic.
- The artist Matthew Burrows has launched the Artist Support Pledge initiative. Artists post work they would like to sell on Instagram, and when they receive £1000 in sales they pledge to spend £200 to buy another artist’s work.
- Artist-run project and studio Auto Italia have launched a UK Grant Writing Support Programme, an advisory service comprised of artists, curators and producers for UK artists filling in emergency grant writing applications. It will operate on a first-come, first-serve basis until 31 May 2020.
Grants and funding programmes
- Arts Council England have launched a £20 million fund to compensate artists and organisations for lost earnings.
- Established artists, apply for the Culture in Quarantine commissioning fund launched by BBC Arts, Arts Council England and The Space Arts.
- ArtQuest have announced their WFH (Working From Home) Residency to pay artists who have had arts projects or other work cancelled, or have been made unemployed, as result of covid-19.
- Disability Arts have pledged new commissions and funding to support disabled artists.
- The arts charity Axis Web have announced a hardship fund available to their members.
- The Eaton Fund provide financial assistance to working artists and art students.
- Photographers, apply for Format's $25,000 global photography fund.
- Fact Liverpool have released details of an online commissioning fund available for artists in the North of England.
- a-n is offering bursaries of £500 - £1,500 to help support those whose livelihoods have been impacted by Coronavirus Covid-19.
- The Freelands Foundation has partnered with a-n to launch the Freelands Foundation Emergency Fund, a landmark commitment of £3m towards emergency funds for artists and freelance creative practitioners across the UK affected by the Covid-19 crisis.
We will continue to update this page as and when we receive new resources.
You can also follow our Twitter for regular updates.
