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Key Information

PLEASE NOTE: This fund is now closed to applications.

Total fund: £20 million

Grant range: Up to £2,500

Key dates: There were two rounds of this fund. 

Round one opened for applications on 9 April 2020  and closed at 12pm (midday) 16 April

Round two opened for applications on 16 April 2020.

We will split our budget equally across both rounds.

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About the fund

PLEASE NOTE: This fund is now closed for applications. 

Information for applicants who have submitted to the fund can be found here.

What was the budget for this fund?
We made £20 million of financial support available to individuals:

  • £16 million through this fund.
  • The other £4 million to benevolent funds targeted at other cultural workers
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Benevolent funds

A £4 million portion of this £20 million fund has been set aside to contribute to the following benevolent funds to support individuals working in these areas. The Arts Council is not administering these funds, but more information can be found about them on the links below.

a-n The Artists Information Company

This fund provides financial support for artists and arts organisers who work in a self-employed capacity to support the production of exhibitions and art work. This includes (but is not limited to) self-employed art handlers, technicians, art installers, conservators and restorers, and those who help other artists in the production of their work.

a-n fund

Dance Professionals Fund

This fund provides financial support for professional dancers. Support is given to freelance dancers across genres including contemporary, ballet, hip hop, Black and Asian dance, including those with portfolio careers, eg choreography, as long as their primary role has been performing.
 

Dance Professionals fund

Equity Charitable Trust

Criteria include professional actors, circus, aerialists, puppeteers or variety performers, and stage managers. Please note that an applicant’s line of work must make them eligible for an Equity card, although they are not required to have one in order to apply. It excludes musicians, drama students, backstage staff and amateur performers.

Equity Charitable Trust

Help Musicians

Professional music performers, composers, creators and those working in other roles requiring a high level of technical skill (teachers, producers, engineers, etc) across all music sectors including, but not limited to, classical, folk, jazz, world, and all contemporary music genres (pop, hip hop, grime, Americana, heavy metal etc).

Please note, the first round of this fund has closed due to demand but Help Musicians are now working on phase two, so please check their website on a regular basis.  

Help Musicians UK

Outdoor Arts UK

This fund will support freelancers who are particularly affected by the seasonal nature of their work, making the vast majority of their annual income in the summer months. This includes, but is not limited to, those identifying as professional and/or specialist artists (eg dedicated street performers, aerialists, stilt artists, project directors) and technicians (eg riggers, projectionists, pyrotechnicians, specialist designers and makers). This also includes outdoor programmers and bookers, technical and production staff, volunteer managers, participation and engagement leaders

Outdoor Arts UK

The Theatrical Guild

This fund supports: 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.

The Theatrical Guild

Society of Authors

Those eligible for this funding include storytellers, scriptwriters, literary journalists, producers, poets, translators and book illustrators.

Society of Authors

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