We are aware that coronavirus Covid-19 will be impacting a-n members and the visual arts community in a number of different ways. This is a quickly changing situation, but we recognise in particular that artists’ incomes will be impacted and we will be advocating for the needs of visual artists with arts councils and government.
a-n is continuing its work and membership benefits including Insurance, access to Jobs and opps and Resources, networking tools such as Blogs, and updates via the a-n Monthly digest will be unaffected.
We will be monitoring the situation in terms of our programmes such as Assembly and will inform members in due course of changes that are necessary.
We’ve collated the following information and guidance for artists and arts organisers which will be updated as the situation changes.
Update 21 May 2020
Contemporary Art Society Rapid Response Fund crowdfunding campaign launched The fund, which is offering artist designed face masks by David Shrigley, Eddie Peake, Linder and Yinka Shonibare as rewards, will be used to buy artworks by UK-based artists and donated to local museums and galleries across the country, who will use these works to welcome back their communities as lockdown restrictions are relaxed.
Update 19 May 2020
Conscious Isolation is offering free tutorials to art students who have lost access to their facilities due to Covid-19. Tutorials take place every Wednesday, 4-6pm. The group is also running a regular Fine Art Lecture series – see Instagram link above to find out more.
Updates 14 May 2020
Arts Council of Wales Stabilisation Fund for Individuals The fund, which opens on 29 May 2020 is for freelance #artists and creative practitioners who are trying to sustain themselves through the Covid-19 pandemic. Grants of between £1,000 and £10,000 are available. Applications will close on Monday 15 June 2020.
Covid-19 Impact Survey on the Arts Residencies Field Res Artis: Worldwide Network of Arts Residencies is partnering with UCL to conduct this survey to assess the true impact of Covid-19 specifically on the field of arts residencies . Res Artis says: “The survey will help us all, as a collective whole, gain a deeper understanding of the situation and how we might work together to rebuild and strengthen the field”
Update 13 May 2020
Scottish Contemporary Art Network Survey shows how long-term impacts of Covid-19 put Scotland’s inspiring visual art scene at risk.
Update 7 May 2020
Freelands Foundation Emergency Fund – open for applications The Foundation has partnered with a-n to set up a new £1.5m Emergency Fund for artists and freelancers in the visual arts sector living in England and Northern Ireland. The new fund will support grants of £1,500 to £2,500 per person, assessed by need, with £1 million going to those living in England and £500k to those in Northern Ireland.
Update 4 May 2020
Freelands Foundation Emergency Fund Freelands Foundation has partnered with a-n to set up a new £1.5m Emergency Fund for artists and freelancers in the visual arts sector living in England and Northern Ireland. The new fund will support grants of £1,500 to £2,500 per person, assessed by need, with £1 million going to those living in England and £500k to those in Northern Ireland. Open for applications from Thursday 7 May 2020.
Update 23 April 2020
Arts organisations call on the Chancellor to support artists’ livelihoods Leading arts organisations led by DACS, and including a-n, have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak MP asking him to protect the livelihoods of visual artists affected by Covid-19
Update 20 April 2020
UK Artist Grant Writing Support This a network of artists, curators and producers working in contemporary art organisations will be providing support to artists requiring help with emergency grant applications over the next eight weeks.
Established in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and its increasingly serious economic impact on artists, the network’s working group includes Auto Italia, Grand Union, Gasworks and Chisenhale Gallery. Requests from those who are underrepresented within the arts and face multiple barriers, in particular BIPOC and LGBTQI+, are particularly welcome. See the link above for more information about how to request support. Submissions will be reviewed on a first come first serve basis until 31 May 2020
Update 17 April 2020
Covid-19 impact survey Drawing on the findings of a-n’s recent survey and reflecting the views of over 4,000 members, the Covid-19 impact survey report provides robust insights into the emerging impacts of the public health crisis with 93% of respondents reporting that their practice or career has been affected by the outbreak.
Update 16 April 2020
Applications are now open for a-n Bursaries: Time Space Money a-n is offering bursaries of £500 – £1,500 to help support those whose livelihoods have been impacted by Coronavirus Covid-19. We’ve brought the application process forward for the next round of a-n Bursaries, and are also working with Arts Council England to distribute £300,000 of financial support as part of the programme. Deadline to apply 12 noon 7 May 2020
Update 14 April 2020
a-n Bursaries: Time Space Money Full information about our programme offering bursaries of £500 – £1,500 to help support those whose livelihoods have been impacted by Coronavirus Covid-19 is now online. a-n Bursaries: Time Space Money will be open for applications from midday 16 April 2020.
US-based W.A.G.E., which campaigns to establish sustainable economic relationships between artists and the institutions that contract their labour and to introduce mechanisms for self-regulation into the art field that collectively bring about a more equitable distribution of its economy, has published Recommended Best Practice Protocols for Institutions and Funders during the coronavirus lockdown.
Update 9 April 2020
Applications for Round one of Arts Council England’s Emergency Response Fund to help individuals during the Covid-19 coronavirus emergency open today. Grants are up to £2,500, or up to £3,000 for those who have extra costs relating to a disability. Applications are open until midday 16 April but please note applicants need to register with ACE’s funding portal Grantium by 13 April to apply. Round two of the programme will be open 16-30 April.
Art Technician Emergency Fund Silent auction of donated artworks to support UK art technicians who have lost their livelihoods due to Covid-19. The fund is also asking artists to donate artworks. The auction will start on 15 April – view works at the link above.
Updates 7 April 2020
Crafts Council Survey of Impact of Covid-19 on Makers Crafts Council has reported findings from its recent survey of 600 makers.
Inspired by #artistsupportpledge Crafts Council is supporting #makersupportpledge Makers post using the #makersupportpledge hashtag and once they reach £500 of sales they pledge to buy £100 work from another maker.
Update 3 April 2020
The Space has announced The Culture in Quarantine fund, which will commission 25 artists to make video, audio or interactive work for broadcast on BBC channels initially. It must be inspired by present conditions of social isolation and be ready for broadcast before the end of July. Please note the short deadline: 5pm, Wednesday 8 April.
Update 2 April 2020
Impact of COVID-19 on Visual Arts Workers survey Contemporary Visual Arts Network survey to help understand the impact of Covid-19 on the visual arts workforce, and the effectiveness of support offered by Arts Council England and HM Treasury’s emergency sector support mechanisms on the visual arts sector. CVAN developed the survey in partnership with a coalition of UK visual arts networks that includes a-n.
Update 31 March 2020
Emergency Response Fund: Individuals Arts Council England has published guidance for its grants to help individuals during the Covid-19 coronavirus emergency. Grants will be up to £2,500, or up to £3,000 for those who have extra costs relating to a disability. Applicants must have made or delivered work that was funded by public money. PLEASE NOTE: There will be two rounds with round one open for applications 9-16 April 2020, and round two open for applications 16-30 April 2020.
a-n Artist Bursaries: Time Space Money, plus financial support for artists and arts organisers To help support Artist members whose livelihoods have been impacted by Coronavirus Covid-19, a-n is bringing the application process forward for the next round of a-n Artist Bursaries, and working with Arts Council England to distribute £300,000 of financial support for artists and arts organisers who make exhibitions happen. Full details of both programmes to be announced soon.
Update 30 March 2020
Following the Government’s announcement of its Self-employment Income Support Scheme, a-n’s CEO Julie Lomax has written to the Treasury Committee to draw attention to concerns about the package.
Updates 27 March 2020
Creative Scotland Bridging Bursary
Creative Scotland has launched a fund for individual artists and self-employed people in Scotland who have lost income from their creative work and/or practice due to coronavirus Covid-19. One-off bursaries of £500 to £2500 are available.
Updates 26 March 2020
Self-employment Income Support Scheme
HM Revenue and Customs has published guidance on its scheme for self-employed people whose income has been affected by coronavirus Covid-19. Full details can be found here.
a-n’s CEO Julie Lomax has written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the DCMS asking for a fair and fast solution to support self-employed and freelance visual artists during the Covid-19 crisis.
Coventry 2021 Coronavirus Resilience Fund has been set up to support arts organisations and individual artists to help them through the period of uncertainty created by the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak. Maximum grant size is £1,000 for organisations and £500 for individuals.
IPSE, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed, is posting regular updates and advice for freelancers and the self-employed, including this proposal for a fund for the self-employed facing coronavirus.
Updates 25 March 2020
Coronavirus Covid-19 a-n survey headlines
Initial findings from the a-n Coronavirus Covid-19 Survey, designed to understand the impact on artists and arts managers and the support they need. Your responses are helping us focus our efforts on how we can best support our members, and we are working with our sector partners to advocate on your behalf.
Updates 24 March 2020
More action needed to help self-employed, urges Treasury Committee Last week’s evidence session received over 14,000 responses mostly on issues relating to self-employment from people who work in a wide variety of professions.
Support for the self-employed during the coronavirus email template Work Notes, which offers articles, resources and community for freelancers, has created an email template that freelancers (and others) can send to their MP asking Government to quickly review its policy.
Pay Self-Employed/Freelancers 80% of their median salary during the Coronavirus Pandemic petition initiated by Matt O’Brien.
Updates 23 March 2020
Sonia Boué has published this freelancer’s guide to online networking with top tips for surviving and thriving. a-n Board member Sonia offers her advice from the perspective of one of the UKs ‘variously-identifying stay-at-home freelance veterans’ with 10 year’s experience building a career online.
Anti-viral work for freelancers and small businesses is a cross sector Facebook group set up ‘in response to the severe impact of COVID-19 on the self-employed’. The group aims to ‘help share the voices of the self-employed community and rally for change’.
Updates 21 March 2020
Disability Arts Online has announced new commissions for disabled artists in light of the unprecedented situation caused by the Coronavirus outbreak. The £8,000 commissions pot has a deadline of Monday 6 April and has 3 strands – Artist Presentations (up to £200 with up to 10 artists selected); Day in the Life Articles (£120 for written articles, £150 for videos with up to 10 artists selected); and Open commissions (£50 – £500).
Artist Support Pledge, the scheme set up by Matthew Burrows to ‘create a small but dynamic market where all can contribute’, now has it’s own Instagram with new features including the weekly Tyson Award supported by artist Keith Tyson, and curated online and virtual exhibitions with guest selectors. The first of these is supported by Hastings Contemporary and selected by its director Elizabeth Gilmore.
Keith Tyson has instigated Isolation Art School, ‘an art school for all by all’. The idea was inspired by the Artist Support Pledge and will feature projects, lessons and tips by artists to help people get creative while housebound during Covid-19 crisis. Artists can get involved by posting a short free creative project, a short lesson or tip, with the aim to encourage everyone to ‘try their hand at something they never had the time for before’.
View this post on Instagram
Updates 20 March 2020
Sadgrads2020 is a community set up to support graduates who have had their degree shows cancelled.
There are lots more Coronavirus impact funds for artists around the UK (and across the world) opening up on GoFundMe – see this link to find projects in your area or search for coronavirus+hardship+artist on GoFundMe
Updates 19 March 2020
Creative Factory has launched a GoFundMe Covid Impact Fund to support artists on Teesside.
Similar projects have also been set up in South West England East Midlands West Midlands Liverpool and London
Do it all, for artists’ sake, now Susan Jones’ four point plan for funders, arts organisations and others who care for and depend on the work of freelance artists.
Artist Alec Finlay’s Covid-19 Creative Tool-kit.
Shape has compiled a list of resources for those working in the arts, affected by self isolation, or generally wanting to help.
It’s a time of great uncertainty and risk for our network, disabled and non-disabled, because of #COVID19. We are compiling a list of resources for those working in the arts, affected by #selfisolation, or generally wanting to help (THREAD) pic.twitter.com/KkzPEa3Zyw
— Shape (@ShapeArts) March 16, 2020
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17 March 2020
UK arts councils have produced the following guidance for artists, freelancers and publicly funded cultural organisations
Arts Council England www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19
Creative Scotland www.creativescotland.com/what-we-do/latest-news/archive/2020/02/coronavirus-advice
Arts Council of Wales/Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru arts.wales/news-jobs-opportunities/coronavirus-covid-19-update-16-march
Arts Council of Northern Ireland artscouncil-ni.org/news/coronavirus-covid-19-advice
Advice from visual arts support organisations and other agencies
Unlimited weareunlimited.org.uk/contingencies-for-coronavirus/
Craft Scotland www.craftscotland.org/journal/article/maker-guide-to-coronavirus
Creative Industries Federation www.creativeindustriesfederation.com/news/federation-responds-todays-covid-19-announcement-about-social-gatherings
UK government advice
UK government response www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response
NHS advice
NHS Inform Scotland) www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus
NHS Direct Wales www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/
Travel
UK government Foreign travel advice www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
World Health Organisation advice www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Benefits and self-employment
Universal Credit www.gov.uk/universal-credit
Employment and Support Allowance for people with a disability or health condition that affects how much they can work (including those who are self-employed) www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/eligibility
Rachel Dobbs’ Self Care Checklist for Precarious Workers rachel.we-are-low-profile.com/blog/self-care-checklist-precarious-workers/
Financial support for artists (immediate and future)
Artist support pledge instigated by Matthew Burrows on Instagram www.instagram.com/matthewburrowsstudio/ Artists pledge to sell work for no more than £200 and when they reach £1,000 in sales they pledge to buy another artists work for £200 www.instagram.com/explore/tags/artistsupportpledge/
Pollock Krasner Foundation pkf.org/
Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation www.gottliebfoundation.org/
Artists’ General Benevolent Institution www.agbi.org.uk/
Legal advice
Legal resources and guidance from Artquest www.artquest.org.uk/artlaw/
Insurance
For questions about your membership insurance policy, please contact Hencilla direct [email protected] 020 8686 5050
Campaigns
Petition to include self-employed in statutory sick pay during Coronavirus petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300336
Information on exhibitions and galleries
Art of social distancing www.instagram.com/artofsocialdistancing/
a-n Community and Resources
Check in with the a-n community for advice and support through Blogs www.a-n.co.uk/blogs/ and Conversations www.a-n.co.uk/conversations/
Funding your work: crowdfunding and patronage platforms www.a-n.co.uk/resource/funding-work-crowdfunding-patronage-platforms/
Artists and mental health: guidance and support www.a-n.co.uk/resource/artists-mental-health-guidance-support/
Artists and mental health: experiences and strategies www.a-n.co.uk/resource/artists-mental-health-experiences-strategies/
