We are collating information below that we hope will be useful to artists, makers and anyone involved in the arts and creative industries in Staffordshire.
Staffordshire Arts Facebook Group is a new group set up for anyone involved in arts, or anyone passionate about arts can share news, ask questions, find support, share tips and start conversations.
Freelance support
- Arts Council England’s information is here, including information on support for freelancers’ loss of earnings and NPOs/SSOs whose programmes are being forced to change
- A new Facebook page has been set up to support freelance creative practitioners, here; the group is currently crowdfunding to build a site
- Arts Marketing Association Coronoavirus support Resoucres
- Arts Marketing Association Community Support Group on Facebook –
- A coronavirus support group for people in theatre industry here
- ..and another resource for freelancers in the UK
- …Arts Council England has clearly stated that its NPOs/SSOs must support freelance contractees: “For NPOs and CPPs, the priority is staying in business. In exchange for our support we ask them to honour contracts agreed with freelancers/artists and think about what help they can offer their communities”.
Financial Advice
The HMRC Coronavirus helpline 0800 0159 559 has been set up for self-employed, freelancers and businesses who will be struggling and concerned about paying their tax due to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Practical support from funders
- Please read the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s statement here
- The London Funders have signed a joint statement of support
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s statement is here
- Esme Fairbairn’s reassurance to its fundees is here
- Arts Council England’s information is here, including information on support for freelancers’ loss of earnings and NPOs/SSOs whose programmes are being forced to change
- UCLHArts is encouraging Hospital Arts managers to write to their charities to ensure support for freelancers whose work has been cancelled; many of our small member organisations are paying freelancers for cancelled work where they possibly can
General Resources
- People Dancing have developed a coronavirus resource here
- What’s Next have an excellent “snapshot of concerns particular to the arts & culture sector” here, which includes advice and links
- Age UK have a very useful resource for older people which (also helpful if you are caring for or working with an older person)
- Mind have a good resource, which includes helpful advice on how to care for your mental wellbeing when self-isolating
- Making Music have produced guidance for leisure-time music groups
- A list of Mutual Aid groups around the UK can be found here
- Here are some free resources for creatives with another list of mutual aid groups
- Public Health England’s information is here
- Weareunlimited have produced a contingency plan for supporting artists who may be losing work, including commissioning small and online works from their contingency funds
Online Events and Courses
- The AMA offer excellent (often online) training on developing digital skills and are offering two, free online events in response to COVID-19:
- AMA: Preparing your Crisis Comms Plan, 25 March @ 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm and
- AMA: Wellbeing for yourself and your Team, 27 March @ 10:30 am – 11:30 am
- Voluntary Arts is launching #CreativeNetwork – a daily online get-together open to anyone involved in arts, culture and creativity who would welcome the opportunity to talk to others about dealing with the current situation, challenges of working from home. These get-togethers are starting on Tuesday 17 March, head to their twitter to double-check the daily time slots
Creative resources
- Here is the Care to Create toolkit from Intergenerational Music Making
- 64million artists offer a great example of free creative online community building and are kick starting #CreateToConnect, two weeks of fun, free creative challenges starting from Monday 23 March. This is designed for anyone who is at home and wanting a creative boost to their wellbeing and to connect with others. Sign up here
New Additions (yet to be sorted)
Thank you to all of you who have supplied these links and suggestions.
- UK Government rResponse (including information for businesses and educational settings)
- NHS Coronavirus COVID-19 Health Information and Advice
- Petition to the British Government to offer economic assistance to the events industry during COVID-19
- Mutual Aid Community Facebook Groups (for supporting people self isolating)
- Theatre Industry Corona Virus Facebook Group
- Coronavirus: what IPSE is doing and advice for freelancers
- Dance Fund UK
- Resident Advisor: How to help the electronic music community (List of resources and links, being updated regularly)
- Facebook Group: Anti-viral work for freelancers and small businesses
- COVID-19 advice for BECTU union members
- Promotional support for independent film makers with festival screenings cancelled
- Film and TV Charity Helpline (Support for people in the film and tv industry)
- Arts Council England Coronavirus information (Includes initial plans for re-focusing funding to support individual artists)
- Unlimited: Access: Best practice for employers and employees for supporting staff with autoimmune conditions
- Coronavirus advice to Equity Members
- HMRC Tax helpline to support businesses affected by coronavirus
- Tracy Brabin MP: Call for information about affects of Covid 19 on Freelance community (MP will raise the issue of supporting freelancers in parliament)
- Remote Work Survival Kit – comprehensive document of resources for working from home, including technical advice, logistics, mental health etc
PLEASE HELP US TO ADD TO THIS LIST
If you have any other resources or links, please email them to us at hello@staffordshirearts.co.uk
CAN YOU DO US A BIG FAVOUR?
Could you help us to promote arts in Staffordshire? All you need to do is Like and Share this post on your preferred social media channel. That’s it!!
It takes just a few seconds to do, but makes a massive difference to us and the Staffordshire artists and organisations that we’re trying tell stories about.
Many thanks
