COVID-19: FUNDS FOR ARTISTS
This page provides information on the organisations and charities who have set up emergency funding to assist the music, creative and entertainment sectors.
AIM (Association of Independent Music)
AIM has launched a £1m COVID-19 support fund for contractors and freelance workers in the independent music industry who have lost income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eligibility Criteria
The AIM fund is open to any contractors due to work with new and developing artists currently signed to AIM member labels who have lost committed income because of cancelled artist projects. It includes tour crews, studio producers, mixing engineers, and others who do not qualify for other hardship funds on offer. You can apply directly to the fund, supplying a contact at the AIM Member Business who can verify the cancelled project and lost income, or AIM members can nominate.
You must be a self-employed contractor or the sole employee of their own loan-out company.
You must not be benefiting from any other music industry Covid-19 support scheme.
Grants will be distributed on a first come, first served basis and priority will be given to UK and Ireland nationals and residents.
What will I receive?
Successful applicants will receive up to 80% of their lost committed income from the project up to £1,000. Payments will be made immediately on approval directly into your chosen bank account.
How do I apply?
You must be nominated by an AIM member label who should login here to complete an application. Applicants will be required to submit confirmatory back-up information to support the nomination.
Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Further information about Arts Council of Northern Ireland funding can be found here.
http://artscouncil-ni.org/funding
Applications for funding is now closed. Further information about Arts Council of Wales can be found here.
Creative Scotland launched three funding programmes designed to sustain the country’s freelance creative community during the COVID-19 outbreak. The funding programme which is still open is:
Open Fund: Sustaining Creative Development
Funding is available to individuals and organisations to help explore ways of working that will enable you to adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances. Eligibility Criteria
Freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners in Scotland can apply for funding to support the development of their practice. You may apply for funding to work with others if your practice is collaborative. You must have a UK bank account.
What help will I receive?
As an individual, you will be able to apply for a grant between £1,000 and £50,000.
It is expected that most applications will be up to £15,000. If you are requesting more than £15,000 you will need to provide additional information.
Funding is also available for organisations.
How do I apply?
Applications opened on 3 April 2020. The fund is open all year round, with no deadlines and can support activity for up to 12 months.
More information can be found here -
Also - https://www.creativescotland.com/funding/funding-programmes/hardship-fund-for-creative-freelancers?
Education support are offering a confidential grants service to those in the education sector.
Eligibility Criteria
If you are working in or retired from the education sector and are suffering financial problems caused by unemployment, ill health, sudden life events, bereavement or a personal injury they may be able to offer support. You must be UK based and have taught or been employed by or in a UK school, college or university; this must be paid employment and you must have been employed for a minimum of one academic term.
What will I receive?
Successful applicants will receive a grant, the sum is unspecified on their website.
How do I apply?
More information can be found here.
https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/helping-you/apply-grant
Equity Charitable Trust Coronavirus Emergency Welfare Support for Freelancers
The Equity Charitable Trust has received funding from Arts Council England to disburse to professional performers.
Further information can be found on the Equity website.
Eligibility Criteria
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, new applications for Education Grants are not being considered at this time. Previous applicants, who have already received an Education Grant, may apply for ongoing funding. You do not need to be an Equity member in order to apply. Other musicians are excluded from the scheme.
What will I receive?
Successful applicants can receive a grant up to £2,500.
How do I apply?
Download the Welfare Grants application form. Send the completed form together with a CV, via email, to info@equitycharitabletrust.org.uk.
Applications will be considered on a weekly basis.
http://www.equitycharitabletrust.org.uk/coronavirusemergencysupport/
Eligibility Criteria
The fund is open to any current MU member who is a full rate member, is a UK resident and is suffering genuine hardship from loss of work due to coronavirus.
You will only be able to apply to this hardship fund once.
What will I receive?
Successful applicants will receive a one-off payment of £200. The money will be transferred to your bank account.
How do I apply?
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria should complete the online application form.
Applicants will be notified within 3 working days to confirm whether they have been successful or not with funds being released to successful applicants within a further 5 working days.
https://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/HardshipFund
ORA Singers Emergency Composers’ Fund
ORA Singers has launched an Emergency Composers’ Fund to provide work for composers who have been disastrously affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The £12,000 fund will be split into eight choral commissions as part of a collaboration with Tate Modern.
Eligibility Criteria
The fund is open to any composer who is resident in the UK.
What will I receive?
The eight chosen composers will each receive a £1,500 commission to write a new choral work inspired by works of art, specifically chosen by Tate Modern from their international collection.
How do I apply?
To register for their funding see ORA Singers website.
https://www.orasingers.co.uk/composers-fund
This fund is not currently accepting new applications. Further information about PRS can be found on the PRS website.
https://www.prsformusic.com/c/emergency-relief-fund
Royal Society of Musicians
The Royal Society of Musicians (RSM) has donated £500,000 to the Help Musicians Coronavirus Hardship Fund. Requests for assistance in respect of coronavirus should be directed to Help Musicians. If you require assistance for anything else, contact the RSM office on enquiries@rsmgb.org or by telephone 020 7629 6137.
Applications to The Fleabag Support Fund are currently closed however a second round of funding is due to open shortly. More information can be found on the TRTF website.
Eligibility Criteria
The RTF is Fund is considering applications from all members of the profession who have contracted COVID-19 or need to self-isolate due to health reasons.
Applicants must have worked professionally in the entertainment industry for at least seven years and be unable to work due to illness, injury or old age.
Those seeking help and meet the eligibility criteria will be asked to claim all benefits and grants that the Government have put in place.
What help will I receive?
Grants will be awarded based on individual need. RTF works closely with other charities in the sector and, with your permission, will share your information to ensure you receive the maximum level of assistance possible.
How do I apply?
Applicants who meet the RTF eligibility criteria should email admin@trtf.com or telephone 020 7836 3322.
Start Up Grant from the Welsh Government
The Welsh Government has launched a ‘Start Up Grant’ to support new businesses in Wales in dealing with the severe impact of Coronavirus who have not been eligible to benefit from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the grant businesses must have been set up between the 1 April 2019 and 1 March 2020 and not qualify for Self-Employment Income Support Scheme and have not received funding from the Economic Resilience Fund or the Non-Domestic Rates grant.
Businesses should have turnover less than £50,000 and will have experienced a drop of more than 50% income between April and June 2020.
What will I receive?
A grant of £2,500.
How do I apply?
The Start Up Grant is being administered by local authorities and accessed through the Economic Resilience Fund eligibility checker on the Business Wales website.
https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
Applicants are required to submit a short application form and self-declaration that is supported by evidence. In addition, applicants will be required to sign up to Business Wales start-up support and advice and align with the ethos and principles of the economic contract that is part of the Welsh government’s economic action plan.
Other sources of support: Music organisations
https://www.royalvarietycharity.org/royal-variety-charity
https://fcm.org.uk/news/cathedral-choirs-emergency-fund/
More information
You can find out more about benefits that may be available to you through https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/Benefits-and-Coronavirus and https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/
You can also get information on how each devolved nation organises its crisis and community care funds in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. In England, this kind of fund is administrated by local councils. Search online for the name of your council and 'Local Welfare Fund' or find out more on emergency help in England.
There are some grants and benefit loans are available through the https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Jargon-buster/Social-Fund
The Actors’ Benevolent Fund has two funding programmes open to applications from actors, actresses and stage managers experiencing hardship.
https://www.actorsbenevolentfund.co.uk/apply
Additional Funding
https://www.backuptech.uk/apply/hardship-form/-
https://www.stagehand.org.uk/the-covid-19-crew-relief-fund
Debt Management
A charity offering free and independent advice online or over the phone about debt advice for small businesses or the self-employed.
https://www.businessdebtline.org/
A network of 300+ charities that provide free, confidential information and advice on a range of issues such as money, legal, consumer and other problems.
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
Debt Camel is a website which has helpful advice about debts and credit ratings from a trained debt advisor. Straight talking and accessible information.
https://debtcamel.co.uk/tag/coronavirus/ - for latest blog posts and updates
National Debtline
Free impartial and confidential debt advice charity. Personal & Business advice. Debt guides, budget management tool, fact sheets and sample letters to help negotiate with creditors and bailiffs. Online or by phone.
England & Wales: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/
Scotland: https://www.nationaldebtline.org/S/Pages/default.aspx
StepChange provides free debt advice, online or over the phone covering a range of money related topics including bailiffs and enforcement agencies, redundancy, debt, reduced income, furlough guidance and much more.
Turn2Us
Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face to face through our partner organisations.
Free debt advice for those needing assistance and information. Covers a wide range of topics including redundancy, furloughing and also for the self employed and limited company directors.
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