Latest News
Latest Government COVID Information – 13th August
13th August 2020
Latest Government Support Schemes – 13th August
£20 million to improve small business leadership and problem-solving skills
£20 million in new grants to boost recovery of small businesses
Peer Networks scheme to be run by Local Growth Hubs
Small Business Leadership Programme
Culture, Arts and Heritage Funding
The Government has confirmed £622m of their support package for the culture, arts, and heritage sectors. This has been released through Arts Council England (£500m), British Film Institute (£30m), and National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England (£92m). The deadlines are very tight on some of the funding streams. Each funder and grant package has, of course, its own criteria and deadlines. The funding is geared towards helping a diverse range of people, organisations and businesses – including pubs, cafes and bars – consequently it would be worthwhile checking the eligibility on each programme carefully.
National Lottery Project Grants
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/projectgrants
These grants have been created with a prioritisation for independent organisations, creative practitioners, and freelancers but also for museums and libraries. This source of funds will remain open until April 2021 and there is no longer the requirement for match funding.
Dates: rolling applications, 6 to 12 week turnaround depending on value.
Can apply for: £1,000-£100,000 .
Culture Recovery Fund: Grants
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/CRFgrants#section-1
In this instance these grants have been devised to aid cultural organisations (both profit and not for profit) based in England that were financially stable prior to COVID-19 but are now at risk of collapse.
Dates:
Round One: 10-21 August 2020
Round Two: 21 August – 4 September 2020.
Can apply for: £50,000-£3m.
Culture Recovery Fund: Repayable Finance
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/culture-recovery-fund-grants/culture-recovery-fund-repayable-finance
Full details of this scheme are still to be released. However, a fund of £270m has been made available to allow the Arts Council to invest in long-term loans over £3m.
Dates: tbc.
Can apply for loans of over £3m
Developing Your Creative Practice
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding
Although limited details have been released so far this scheme is due to come on-line during the autumn with an increased budget (from £3.6m to circa £18m) to support as many independent creative practitioners as possible.
Dates: tbc
Can apply for: tbc
Support for Freelance Workers
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding
In the similar vein to the above scheme details are yet to be announced for a fund totalling £2m.
Dates: tbc
Can apply for: tbc
National Lottery Heritage Fund: Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage
https://www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/culture-recovery-fund-for-heritage
This fund has been created to support organisations within the heritage sector that were previously financially sustainable before Covid-19, have now exhausted all other financing options, and are now at risk of failure. These grants are for settings in England only with the requirement for the funds to be spent by 31st March 2021.
Dates: closes 17 August
Can apply for £10,000-£3m
The British Film Institute: Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas: Safety
https://www.bfi.org.uk/culture-recovery-fund-independent-cinemas
Predominantly this fund is for cinemas to implement the necessary measures to ensure the safety of their workforce and the visiting public.
- Dates: 10 August-30 October
- Can apply for: up to £10,000
The British Film Institute: Culture Recovery Fund for Independent Cinemas: Business Sustainability
https://www.bfi.org.uk/culture-recovery-fund-independent-cinemas
These grants have been tailored to support independent cinemas enabling them to operate viably under the restricted conditions imposed by Covid-19 and to help manage the disruption of delayed reopening.
Dates: 10 August-30 October
Can apply for: up to £200,000
