COVID-19 support for culture organisations
With the rapidly changing nature of the COVID-19 outbreak, information and advice from Government and sector support bodies can change quickly. Please find below links providing advice and guidance for Arts and Heritage organisations; this will be refreshed and updated as new information comes in:
Download the most recent Arts, Culture and Heritage E-News here!
The government has announced that museums, galleries and heritage sites can reopen from 4th July. Guidance for the heritage sector has been published by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in collaboration with Historic England and guidance for museums has been published by the National Museum Directors’ Council with DCMS support. You can download the full guidance here.
Emergency arts and culture funding streams still open:
- NEW ! The Art Fund
The Art Fund UK has announced a new 'Respond and Reimagine' funding scheme to support cultural organisations develop ideas that help them adapt for the future. Applications are welcome from UK public museums, galleries, historic houses, libraries and archives. For all details please visit the website. There will be three rounds of funding and the next deadline is 17th August..
- National Lottery Heritage Fund:
On 1 April, a new Heritage Emergency Fund was announced to support the sector. £50million has been allocated for emergency grants towards heritage, including historic sites, industrial and maritime heritage, museums, libraries and archives, parks and gardens, landscapes and nature. The application window has now been extended until the end of July. You can apply for emergnecy grants between £3,000 - £50,000 or between £50,000 - £250,000. For eligiblity criteria and all other details please visit the website.
- Youth Music
Youth Music have launched a emergency fund to offer additional support to music-making organisations affected by coronavirus. Full details are here. There are a number of funds available with deadlines throughout 2020. They are also provide funding guidance and advice for individual music freelancers here.
- Theatres Trust
The Theatres Trust have launched a small grants scheme to support re-opening - details are here.
Advice and guidence also available from:
AIM are lobbying the government to ensure that the UK's independent museums sector at this time will be supported. This site includes a breakdown of the programme of financial support available to the independent museum sector, as well as updates on advocacy news and an online advice surgery.
The site contains updates for the Creative Industries Sector, and includes links to Webinair sessions with leading sector specialists. The Federation is also offering free membership until September 2020 for freelancers and microbusinesses.
Information includes what they are doing to support makers and craft businesses.
- Theatre Support
Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre have launched a new website with details of theatre charities offering grants and support.
Digital Heritage Lab:
Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Digital Heritage Lab is offering FREE digital support. Managed by the Arts Marketing Association 'The Lab' is a free programme to help small/medium-sized heritage organisations develop digital capabilities and capacity. Support includes mentoring sessions, workshops, peer to peer support and digital bootcamps. You can apply here. Deadline 17th July
Prosper North Business Support Programme
Prosper North is a free business support programme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.The programme aims to improve the capabilities of around 80 cultural heritage organisations in the North of England – from music venues to community art groups, and independent museums to literature festivals.
Successful applicants will recieve tailored 1:1 business support, workshops, webinars and meetups designed to enable cultural heritage organisations to increase income and impact, become more resilient businesses and explore social investment. In these challenging times of social distancing due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the programme will also help with planning for the rebuilding of businesses post-lock down.
You can apply here. Deadline 3rd August.
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For further advice for businesses please visit: coronavirus business support
For further advice for the tourism sector please visit: coronavirus tourism support
