COVID 19 Support for Artists and Studio Providers

June 11, 2020

London needs your work now more than ever and we hope you will be successful in securing other forms of support. We have gathered some resources from across our network that we hope will be able to help your organisation and community during this difficult time.

Funding and Grants

Local Grant Finder

Us the Local Grant Finder to see if you might be eligible for new discretionary local business grants, part of the government’s COVID-19 business support package.

The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)

The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) provides finance to mid-sized and larger UK businesses with a group turnover of more than £45m (the upper limit for the existing smaller-business focused CBILS) that are suffering disruption to their cashflow due to lost or deferred revenues during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Further £150m government support for charities and social enterprises

The funding will support urgent work to tackle youth unemployment, expand access to emergency loans for civil society organisations and help improve the availability of fair, affordable credit to people in vulnerable circumstances.

Self-Employment Support Scheme Extended and Furlough Scheme Amended

Those eligible under the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), which has so far seen 2.3 million claims worth £6.8 billion will be able to claim a second and final grant in August. From 1 July 2020, businesses will be given the flexibility to bring furloughed employees back part time.

Fund Launched for Women’s Organisations Impacted by COVID-19 Crisis

Organisations that are non-profitable and run predominantly by, for and with women can now apply for grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 to meet short-term funding needs for a period of up to six months.

Support for Artists

Season for Change has launch Common Ground, a programme of four £10,000 commissions for artists, makers or creators, and a professional development programme focused on cultural climate leadership.

The Delta (Δ) Research Placement

Open to artists to undertake a period of remote research with the John Latham Archive and to develop a digital project for a new experimental online platform for FTHo.

Two selected artists will each be offered a fee of £1000. Artists should be able to undertake research in August and September with the aim of a digital outcome able to launch online in October or November.

Freelands Foundation Funds

The Freelands Foundation is committed to supporting artists, organisations, audiences and staff during the COVID-19 crisis. Therefore, the Foundation is pleased to announce that it has now committed a total of £3m in emergency funds to support artists and freelance creative practitioners that are in urgent need of financial support due to the COVID-19 pandemic across the four nations of the UK.

Forces Communities Together Programme

Grants of up to £10,000 for six-month projects beginning no later than mid-October 2020 are available to support creative and engaging projects, that can be delivered under social restrictions, for people from Armed Forces communities who are isolated as a result of the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

Creative Debuts Black Artist Grant

The Black Artists Grant is £500 given out monthly to a black artist in the UK. The BAG is no-strings attached financial support to help the selected artist in whatever they want – be that make new work, buy equipment or materials, travel, research, visit exhibitions or conferences, or to even just cover some life expenses. This is specifically for Black artists; not politically black, not POC or BAME.

Raising funds for your business/through Crowd Funding

Pay It Forward

Crowdfunder has partnered with the Creative Industries Federation to provide a way to rally the support of your friends, clients and customers at this challenging time.

Other businesses have used crowd funding platforms to engage with and find support in their communities. Here’s just a few examples of successful campaigns to support businesses suffering due to Covid 19: