COVID-19 support for culture in Herefordshire

COVID-19 support for artists, heritage and creatives in Herefordshire

We are updating this list of resources and opportunities as we find them.

If you come across anything helpful that should be included, please let us know at hello@the-shire.co.uk.

Herefordshire Council's full list of grants for communities can be found here.

Keep Connected - this grant scheme from Fastershire is supporting Herefordshire organisations to adapt and continue to deliver their services remotely.

2Faced Dance exec director Tamsin Fitzgerald has started the Artists For Action WhatsApp group for Herefordshire-based creatives. Email info@2faceddance.co.uk to be added.

UK Covid-19 Freelance Artist Resources List - this is a comprehensive list of support currently available for UK freelance creatives and artists.

The Association of Museums has lots of advice for museums. If you want to connect with the Herefordshire Museums Forum, email hello@the-shire.co.uk and we'll pass your details on.

Herefordshire Community Foundation has small grants available for groups working with communities. The  #NETCoronavirusappeal Fund is not open to individuals or statutory bodies.

If you work with chlidren and young people in Herefordshire and want to connect with fellow practitioners, you can join the HVOSS (Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support Service) No Wrong Door Project partnership. NWD Partners are meeting via Zoom every fortnight. Email NWD Co-ordinator Will Edwards at will.edwards@hvoss.org.uk to find out more.

Hope for the Young's Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund will support vulnerable young refugees or asylum seekers up to 30 years of age who are in need of immediate financial support. Read more here.

Anyone who is eligible for Arts Council England funding (contact them to check if you're not sure) can get free 1-2-1 advice from their Digital Culture Network. So whether you need help with website analytics, email marketing, social media, SEO, ecommerce or digital marketing, get in touch with them: www.artscouncil.org.uk/developing-digital-culture/digital-culture-network.


UK Government support - find out here what financial support is available from the UK Government, from the Self-employment Income Support Scheme to coronavirus Future Fund loans scheme (opening in May 2020).

The Bounce Back Loan Scheme makes loans between £2000 and £50,000 available to small and medium-sized organisations, on terms of up to 6 years and no repayments, fees or interest within the first 12 months. It's expected that , once approved, cash will be available in days. Find out more here.

Do you employ people? The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has issued guidance to assist employers and businesses in providing advice to staff.

All funding decisions made by The National Lottery Community Fund in the next six months will be 'devoted to addressing the current crisis'. Read more about TNL Community Fund opportunities here.

A hand-picked list of what's on(line).

A hand-picked list of what's on(line) in Herefordshire.

Severn Arts has started an Arts & Health subgroup, following their first Arts Get Together, and will host a Zoom video call at 3.30pm on May 19th. To get involved email Monika Cockcroft at m.cockcroft@severnarts.org.uk.

Culture Response Unit West Midlands - this Facebook group from Culture Central is working on visibility, viability and recovery of the Cultural Sector across the West Midlands, including Herefordshire.

Arts Marketing Association (AMA)'s Facebook Group is for people working in arts marketing.

There is a range of Covid19 support coming online from Cause4 and Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy - find out more about the schemes here.

Locality - this is an ever-growing resource with links to funding opportunities for charities. A must-read for anyone involved in Herefordshire's non-profit arts, heritage and creative communities.

Emergency Fund from Youth Music Network (England) is supporting music-making organisations with grants of up to £10,000. 

Dance Professionals Fund - for professional dancers.

a-n The Artists Information Company - this fund supporting self-employed people working with artists and exhibitions (art handlers, technicians, art installers, conservators and restorers, and those who help other artists).

The Film and TV Charity's Covid-19 Repayable Grants Scheme - supporting UK film, TV & cinema freelancers waiting for payments under the Government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. Grants of up to £2,000 will be offered to those eligible.
 
The Author's Emergency Fund from the Society of Authors - this fundi is for storytellers, scriptwriters, literary journalists, producers, poets, translators and book illustrators. 
 
Grants Online - as always, Grants Online pull together a regularly updated run-down of grant schemes available across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This is a comprehensive list of schemes supporting those affected by coronovirus.
 
The NCVO website has advice on financial planning, as well as links to funding opportunities for charities. 
 
We need to ensure we protect as much of our cultural ecology as we can – and as things stand, every part of it is in peril.
Darren Henley, ACE

Commissions & Opportunities

Herefordshire Council and Hereford Times are asking residents to help document their lives to create a record of the current crisis. Click this link to find out how you can contribute photos to the Life Under Lockdown history project.
 
Disability Arts has announced new commissions for disabled artists, and you can be working in any art form.
 
Coventry University Digital Commissions - this is a call out for work that can be shared digitally by the Coventry city of Culture team (closing April 30). 
 
Thre are also a number of artists opportunities to be found on the ArtquestArtsHub and Art Rabbit websites.
 
The Creative Industries Federation is running regular webinars with practical tips and expert Q&As. The Federation is currently offering free six-month memberships to all freelancers, self-employed workers and microbusinesses. . Click here for more information and sign up to the newsletter for details of the webinars.