PRACTICAL RESOURCES
A new resource under the FMTW banner where we plan to build a digital smörgåsbord of guides to help theatre freelancers understand the ins and outs of funding applications, Arts Council project grant advice and road maps for using the benefits system; Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Council Tax Reduction etc.
Watch this space (literally – this is where it is all going)
Additional Restrictions Grant - Info
Local grants that can be applied for through your council.
The grant is geared towards hospitality, venues and commercial businesses (who lost income during the last national lockdown in November), but sole traders who use their home address are also eligible.
ACE PROJECT GRANTS: Templates
The Uncultured have produced two templates for the next round of ACE Project Grants which are now open.
Download their templates below or click here to find out more via The Uncultured.
APPLYING FOR ARTS FUNDING: A GUIDE Sabrina Mahfouz
Smashing it – working class artists on life, art and making it happen. Edited by Sabrina Mahfouz.
Download ‘Smashing It – A Guide to Applying for Funding’ here
APPLYING FOR UNIVERSAL CREDIT IF YOU'RE SELF EMPLOYED - via The Money Advice Service
This page tells you more about claiming Universal Credit if you’re self-employed. If you’re self-employed and already claiming certain benefits like Tax Credits or Housing Benefit, you will be eventually moved onto Universal Credit. Find out more about what to expect and what you can do to be prepared.
Visit the Universal Credit page of The Money Advice Service here.
Creative Access - leading diversity organisation
Creative Access is a leading diversity organisation in the UK.
We combine provide progressive career support and development for talent from communities under-represented in the creative industries.
EMPLOYER TRAINING from Creative Access
Creative Access has a highly experienced team, with a strong track record of delivering exceptional training for organisations across the UK.
We run a range of training designed to help organisations become more inclusive; from diversity and inclusion, to mental health and wellbeing; and leadership. Training can be anything from a company-wide programme to a one-off session.
All of our diversity trainers have held senior posts in the cultural and creative industries. Our mental health and neurodiversity training is run by senior clinical psychologists.
SOCIO-ECONOMIC DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Toolkit: Creative Industries
Guidance aimed at addressing the under-representation of people from working-class backgrounds in the creative industries published by the Social Mobility Commission.
The toolkit, created by the government-backed commission in partnership with businesses across the creative industries, is intended to offer practical support to employers on how to “identify and remove barriers” in sectors such as music and performing arts, in which just 23% of the workforce comes from a working-class background.
SUCCESSFUL FUNDING APPLICATION LIBRARY
Funding applications are forms you complete and submit to funding bodies, organisations or trusts in the hopes of gaining money to support something you would like to do. In the arts, funding covers all sorts: a gallery’s running costs and programming, artist fees, staff payment, materials, money for research and development, marketing, printing, production, archiving, organisational development, travel… everything really. The arts relies on it. Artists and groups apply for themselves and if they’re lucky, they’ll get something; and big galleries apply to lots of different private and public funders in order to make up their big budgets. But knowing where to start when writing an application can be difficult; knowing who to apply to can be tricky as well.
This library is a resource of successful funding applications that you can learn from. Look at what is being applied to and where, and check out the funders these are addressed to see to if they are appropriate for your project. The library will grow and we’ll try to furnish this page with even more information so that everyone can hopefully secure themselves some £££.
Interactive status MAP of venues and organisations in the UK during COVID
Arts Map from The Public Campaign For The Arts, a new online platform and interactive UK map that enables anyone to
- Check the status of arts organisations nearby
- Share messages of support by video, audio or written text
- Offer financial support directly to companies
NATIONAL LOTTERY PROJECT GRANTS - The Changes via Arts Council England
Here’s a video explaining the recent changes to the fund so it can be more responsive to the needs of smaller independent organisations and individual practitioners during Covid-19.
THEATRE SEARCH: DATABASE OF THEATRE OPENINGS
Spun Glass Theatre: Theatre Search
A free comprehensive resource detailing all venue closures, re-openings and programming windows for independent producers and artists.
Arts Council England are currently funding Spun Glass Theatre to build Theatre Search – a free resource which catalogues the impact of Covid-19 on UK venues. We hope that by facilitating the creation of a free-to-access, shared resource for independent producers and arts companies, we can help to rebuild the UK touring ecology.
Theatre Search clearly shows which UK theatres are open, which have unfortunately closed and when some might be looking to programme work, helping new productions to be created and tours to be rebooked.
APPLYING FOR UNIVERSAL CREDIT: A step by step guide
If you are thinking of applying for Universal Credit, we have created a step-by-step guide showing you how to get started.
UNIVERSAL CREDIT: A simple guide
What is Universal Credit and who can apply for it? We’ve created a simple guide to show you the basics of what it is, how payments work and what you are entitled to. It also includes links, videos and useful numbers