Financial support for artists, creative practitioners and freelancers

MUST READ: How to apply

PLEASE NOTE: This fund is now closed for applications. 

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

Step 1: Read the guidance

Make sure you read the guidance in full, to make sure you are eligible before you start your application.

You can download the guidance for applicants below, or access it in British Sign Language, where you can find all of the information you need including the eligibility criteria, the application process and the questions and character counts in the application form.

Step 2: Register on Grantium and familiarise yourself with it

Before you can start an application you need to create a user account and applicant profile.

Please make sure that all the information in your Grantium profile is up to date before you apply.

Our Grantium guidance can help you get to grips with using the system.

Step 3: Any questions? Check our FAQs

Read the FAQs for the funding on the next sections of this page before you get in touch. You can also find a list of our top queries and their answers here.

These pages are updated regularly, with all our latest information and FAQs.

Step 4: Begin your application in Word

We've created Word document versions of the application to give you the chance to draft your application offline before you enter it into Grantium. 

We will not accept this document as an application form.

The document does not automatically count how many characters or words you have entered. You can use www.charactercountonline.com to check if each of your answers is within the character limit for that question.

Download the application form >

Step 5: Enter your application into Grantium

When the portal opens for applications, you will have seven days to make an application. Once you have completed your draft application in Word, you can paste the answers from that document into the application form on Grantium in order to submit.

Our 'Emergency Response Funds: How to start and submit your application' guidance sheet can help you to get started with this application form on Grantium.

We will let applicants know about the outcome as soon as decisions have been made (approximately two to three weeks after the portal closes) – this means that some applicants will hear the result of their application before others, but all will be advised as quickly as possible.

Guidance update history

Update #1: 10am, Thursday 9 April 2020.
Detail: Character counts for all application form questions added.

FAQs: 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 is the budget for this fund?

We're making £20 million of financial support available to individuals:

• £16 million can be applied for by individuals through this fund.
• The other £4 million will go to benevolent funds targeted at other cultural workers, please see the final section of this webpage for more information about these funds.

When can I apply?

There will be two rounds, and you can apply to one of these rounds. Round one opens for applications on 9 April 2020. Round two opens for applications on 16 April 2020.

When the portal opens for applications, you will have seven days to make an application for round one and 14 days to make an application for round two.

Unsuccessful applicants cannot apply again. If you start an application for Round one but don’t submit it, you will be able to access it when the portal opens for Round two. You will then be able to submit it in Round two.

If I am successful, when would I receive the funding?

We’ve designed the process to be as swift as possible so that we can make payments as fast as we can. We’ll be able to share more detail in the coming weeks.

How would this funding impact on my application for Universal Credit/financial support for my business from the government?

We cannot advise on how our funding might impact on Universal Credit, or any other form of benefit or funding. You should contact HMRC for advice.

If you have other means of support from sources that will be sufficient for this period, then we ask that you please do not apply.

Will there be more rounds of this fund?

There will be two rounds. Individuals can apply to only one of these rounds.

What will the success rate be?

In these unprecedented circumstances, we cannot know this until we see how many people apply.

Will the Arts Council be publishing data about its decisions?

Once decisions have been made for both Rounds one and two of this fund, we will publish aggregate data on our website to show how we have awarded the funding. The data will be anonymised and no applicant names will be published. We are aiming to publish this in the second half of May. 

FAQs: The funding criteria

PLEASE NOTE: This fund is now closed for applications. 

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

What do we mean by a ‘creative practitioner’?

Writers, translators, producers, editors, educators, directors and designers in the disciplines and artforms we support, as well as choreographers, composers, visual artists, craft makers and curators. 

What does ‘publicly funded’ mean?

You must have experience of delivering work that was funded (directly or indirectly) by bodies such as Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery Community Fund, local authorities, universities, public sector bodies, trusts and foundations, etc. 

You need to have been part of the delivery of publicly funded work, even if you didn’t directly apply for the funding yourself.

If I have done more publicly funded work than another applicant, am I more likely to get the funding?

Although we ask applicants to demonstrate their track record in publicly funded work, the amount of funding received will not be used as a factor in our decision making.

Do I need to give you a budget for how I would spend the funding and do I need 10% match funding?

No, you do not need to provide a budget or any match funding. You just need to tell us how much you are applying for.

What sort of proof do I need to demonstrate loss of income?

You just need to tell us about any income you have lost. We might contact you to ask for evidence of this at a later date, so keep a record (such as your own records, emails, copies of contracts etc).

Why are you prioritising D/deaf and disabled-led organisations/creative practitioners?

In ensuring the resilience and sustainability of the arts and culture sector at this time, we want to make sure our funding reaches those who may be considered most vulnerable.

We want to make sure the arts and culture sector best represents the society we live in, and hope that this funding will enable creative practitioners and organisations who are D/deaf or disabled-led to maintain sufficient income so they can continue to operate successfully in the future.

I already have a National Lottery Project Grant or Developing Your Creative Practice grant in progress. Does that impact on me applying for this fund?

You can still apply to the response fund, though it’s recommended that you carefully consider the criteria for this fund and what funding you require during the Covid-19 crisis.

We will be considering whether applicants have any other existing Arts Council grants and whether these can be repurposed when we make our decisions. Competition will be very high for these grants and we want all of our available resources to go as far as possible.

It is a good idea to think about the future of your current project, and what you will be able to deliver.

Is touring work eligible? Can I apply for work next year? What about tours that are already booked for later in the year that need funding to go ahead? 

No – you can only apply for the types of activity listed in the guidance. We won’t be able to support applications that include future touring work through the response fund.

I already have a National Lottery Project Grant or Developing Your Creative Practice grant in progress. Can I use any remaining funds to support myself/my team, instead of applying for more funding?

We ask that you only consider applying to this programme if you do not have the funds to ensure stabilisation during this crisis.

If you are unable to continue with the activity you were funded to complete, you can either delay the activity or ask us about potentially repurposing the funds to support yourself during this time. 

Can I apply for the development outlined in my National Lottery Project Grant/Developing Your Creative Practice grant application?

You can only apply for:

•    Activity and/or equipment that will help you to sustain your practice and support you in continuing with your work
•    Time to stabilise, think and plan for the future

This could include development to stabilise your practice and change the way you work. If stabilisation and planning activity like networking and mentoring activity can feasibly be delivered during this period, they can be included in applications. We can’t support output-focused proposals for project work, but there will be other opportunities to apply for this type of project as the emergency situation eases.

I was about to make an application to National Lottery Project Grants. Can I apply for that work through this fund?

No – you can only apply for work set out in the criteria for this fund. We cannot support any other work.

I am an individual but work as an organisation. Can I apply to the Emergency Response Fund: For organisations?

No. To apply to the response fund for organisations you need to:
•    have a bank account in the name of your organisation
•    have a governing document
•    have an organisation profile on Grantium

If you are an individual who usually works with others as if you were an organisation (for example, one person usually takes the lead for making applications and managing grants, but you work as if you were an organisation), you and the people you work with can each apply to the response fund for individuals.

If you are a sole trader, you can apply to the response fund for individuals.

The guidance says that composers can apply to the individuals fund. Does this also apply to music creators in non-classical/jazz genres?

Yes. The term composer should be read as someone who writes/creates music in any genre. This would be equally applicable to a singer songwriter, rapper or grime producer as it would to a classical composer as long as they meet the eligibility criteria for the fund around having previously benefited from public funding.

It would also apply to the main songwriter(s) in a band, but not for their supporting musicians who are less involved in the writing of the band’s material.  

I operate as a sole trader. Should I apply as an organisation or an individual?

You should apply to the Emergency Response Fund: for individuals. You should set up your profile on Grantium as an individual to access this fund.

If you already have a profile as an organisation on Grantium, please contact us. 

I applied to one of the benevolent funds for individuals before I knew about the Arts Council’s programme for individuals. Am I now ineligible to apply to the Emergency Response Fund?

We recognise that you may already have applied to one of these benevolent funds, but having seen the criteria you now feel it is more appropriate to apply to Arts Council.  We would advise that you should let us know in your application and if you subsequently receive funds from both, you should only accept one offer.  This is to ensure that the funds available go as far as possible and support as many people in need as we can. If you are considering applying to either Arts Council funds or any of the benevolent funds, please make your decision based on what is most appropriate to your circumstances.

Can individuals apply to the individuals fund, and also apply to the fund for organisations if they are the main contact for an organisation?

Yes, if an individual is a freelancer and also works as part of an organisation part of the time, and they meet all the programme criteria, they could make two applications – one as an individual, and one as the main contact for an organisation.

Please note that to be eligible, individual freelancers must generate more than 50% of their income through their freelance work.

Can I update the monitoring information held about our/my protected characteristics (like disability, or ethnicity) in my Grantium applicant profile?

Yes, you can update this information before you submit any application. Our Grantium guidance can help you do this.

Can performers apply to the Emergency Response Fund for individuals?

Performers who create and devise their own work would be included in the definition of creative practitioners for the purposes of this fund and are eligible to apply. If you are an actor, musician, or dancer whose work is solely performance based, we can’t offer support through this fund, and you could apply instead to the relevant benevolent fund that we have supported. By ‘solely performance based’, we mean performers who have been contracted or employed only in order to perform work that has been created by others. 

Are creative practitioners that work within schools eligible for this fund?

Yes. The guidance says that having ‘a track record working in the publicly funded culture sector’ means that a practitioner has experience of making and delivering work supported by funds from arm’s length bodies, local authorities, universities, other public sector bodies or trusts and foundations. This can be direct support (they have had a grant from one of these organisations) or indirect support (they have had a grant or a commission from an organisation that itself receives public funding). 

State maintained schools are public sector bodies and so a creative practitioner that is working within schools to deliver lessons or workshops beyond the curriculum can apply to this fund. This includes any freelance educators who also work in schools on behalf of a Music Education Hub. Please note that we cannot support teachers who usually work to deliver the national curriculum through this fund.

FAQs: Access support and advice

PLEASE NOTE: This fund is now closed for applications. 

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

Can I speak to a Relationship Manager?

No - Relationship Managers, our Customer Services team and other Arts Council staff will not be able to offer specific, one-to-one advice about how to write applications for this fund. 

We have designed this application process to be as straightforward as possible, requesting only the information we need based on your current circumstances. 

Our capacity for advice giving is extremely limited at the moment, but if you have access needs and require further support to complete the application, please email our Customer Services team and add ‘ACCESS INFORMATION’ in the subject bar.

Are access funds available to support disabled artists to use Grantium and to make applications?

We realise some people may find that there are barriers to applying to this fund, and we want to help people with access needs (for example, those who are disabled or have a physical or mental health condition) to apply. 

If you do have an access need, we may be able to offer you some additional support. Please contact our Customer Services team.

Can I include personal access costs in my project budget?

Each practitioner can apply for funding of up to £2,500.

If you have additional costs relating to a disability, you can apply for up to £3,000.

In addition, if we offer you funding, our Customer Services team can help you to use Grantium to manage your grant online.

How can I get access support while isolating/distancing?

Given the current restrictions in place, it is not possible for face-to-face support (outside of regular caregivers) to take place.

We will continue to support individuals who have support workers (including family members) via the Access Support Fund to interpret the guidance and/or make an application via Grantium. 

The best thing to do is contact our Customer Services team.

Is the guidance for applicants available in accessible formats?

Yes, you can download the guidance for applicants in large print and Easy Read formats below or access it in British Sign Language.

Watch the full BSL playlist >

FAQs: Using Grantium

PLEASE NOTE: This fund is now closed for applications. 

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

What kind of profile do I need on Grantium? If I already have one, do I need a new one?

You must have an individual applicant profile registered in your legal name. If you already have a validated profile in Grantium you do not require a new profile to access the emergency funding programmes. 

Where can I find guidance on how to use Grantium?

Our Grantium guidance page can give you all the information you need to get started using Grantium. Including How to create and manage your account and applicant profile and How to complete a form.

How can I create an applicant profile before the new emergency funds appear in the 'browse programmes' option on Grantium?

To create an applicant profile, login to Grantium and click Applicants in the left menu bar. Click the Add Applicant icon on this screen.

 
 
You will then see the Applicant Details screen where you can select your Applicant Type of individual from the dropdown.
 
Make sure your individual applicant profile is in the same name as your user account. The signatory accepting any individual grant must match the name of the individual we are making a grant to.
 
Click Save & Back and you will be taken back to the Applicants screen where you should click the Open icon to proceed.
 
You can then complete each stage, starting with the ‘Applicant Details’ page. Click ‘Save & Next’ after each step to proceed.  
 
To submit your applicant profile, please ensure you select Complete on the Submissions summary page. 
 
Once you have completed your applicant profile, it will need to be validated by our Grant Management team before getting started on your application. We will email you once this has been completed. 

How do I update my monitoring information?

In late 2018, we updated how we collect information relating to diversity for our applicants including some changes to the Monitoring Information page in all applicant profiles.

If you have not made an application to us since then, you will need to go into your applicant profile and update the monitoring information. You will not be able to submit a new application until you update this information. It is best to do this before you start the Eligibility Questionnaire.

To update your applicant profile:

• Log in to your profile
• In the left-hand menu, click on Applicants
• Use the drop-down menu to select the applicant profile you wish to update
• Click on the orange folder icon next to ‘Open’ to open the profile
• In the left-hand menu, click on Submission summary. At the bottom of this screen, click Edit
• In the left-hand menu, click on Monitoring information. You will need to respond to all the questions on this page
• Once complete, click Save and Next at the bottom of the screen
• On the Declaration screen, check you are happy with all the information, and click Save and Next at the bottom of the screen
• Click Complete at the bottom of the Submission summary screen

You may also wish to check and update any information in the rest of your applicant profile.

If you have any issues completing any of these steps, contact our Customer Services team.

Can I apply using my artist/performer name?

No, your applicant name needs to match your legal name and be the same name as the one on your bank account. 

I’ve forgotten my password for Grantium / I’ve been locked out of Grantium as I’ve entered my password incorrectly too many times.  

If you have forgotten your password for your Grantium account or been locked out, please contact us sooner rather than later.

Our Customer Services team is available via email only but we are replying to emails as quickly as possible (normally within 2-3 working days). 

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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Society of Authors

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

Society of Authors