This week in Creative Money (24 July, 2020)
Financial guidance for creative professionals
Creative Money aims to have an open conversation about finances in the creative industries.
It was founded in July, 2020 in an attempt to address a frustrating lack of tailored financial guidance for creative workers. It is written by me, Matt Parker, a freelance writer and lecturer.
The week in Creative Money
24 July, 2020
This week I have been thinking about the two bigs 'ins' of creative work: integrity and income. It can often seem like we have to pick one over the other, but as I argue in today's blog ('The Starving Artist' vs 'The Sell-out'), it's never as simple as an either/or argument.
It's interesting to me that multi-billionaire Warren Buffett seems to value integrity as much as many of the dogmatic DIY punks, serious actors, or other artists you might encounter. It's the primary quality Buffet looks for when hiring people and he certainly does not consider it to come at the cost of future income – quite the opposite.
Integrity is a manifestation of principles, though, and these things are often not externally sign-posted. As such, I think it's time to think about this as less of a line in the sand, or a hard wall between two extremes – in or out, artist or sell-out – and more of a spectrum that we navigate as best suits our own set of values. As Lydia Wilkins (this week's How I Make It Work interviewee - see below) asserts, the only person who really gets to make that judgement is you.
The recession and the current economic/health situation is already challenging enough for many creatives, so above all else, let's make sure we support each other as much as possible in the coming months.
On that note, if you think there's anything Creative Money can do to support you or address your questions about finances in the creative industries, please do get in touch and let me know. I'm always on the look out for ideas and chances are if you're wondering it, someone else is too...
All the best,
Matt
On the site this week:
The ‘starving artist’ vs ‘the sell-out’ – the struggle of the creative worker
How I Make It Work: Lydia Wilkins – freelance journalist
What do you need to know this week?
Concerns arts bailout will come too late
The debate over just how and when the £1.57bn culture sector bailout will reach the people who need it most continues to heat-up, with many MPs criticising the government's sluggish response.
Manchester saves two of its best music venues
Gorilla and The Deaf Institute in Manchester, both on the brink of oblivion last week, have been saved after Tokyo Industries stepped forward to buy the two venues. They intend to operate them in "much the same way".
10 easy ways to cut your tax bill
The second self-assessment payment deadline of the year (Friday 31 July, 2020) looms for some. It's a good time to refresh yourself on ways you can legitimately cut your tax bill.
How to know your worth as a freelancer
Nice piece from the ever-evolving Young Guns Network here about setting rates as a creative freelancer.
Grants and funding opportunities
Freelance and trying to figure out new income streams?
FEU Training is running an online workshop on diversifying your portfolio and using your skills to create new work opportunities. It's free for members of Equity, the NUJ, MU and Writers' Guild. It runs on 12 August and places are limited (read the small print).
Call for disabled writers to pitch arts pieces
Art UK is looking for pitches from disabled writers who want to write about art and artists. Explore http://artuk.org for inspiration. Rates are around £100–£150 for pieces between 700 and 1,200 words. Send your pitches to andrew.shore@artuk.org and lydia.figes@artuk.org
Creative England's New Ideas fund
Creative England's New Ideas Fund can offer grants between £1000 and £25,000 to support the development of new and innovative ideas for screen-based storytelling entrepreneurs and businesses in the English regions. Applications considered on a rolling basis.
PRS Sustaining Creativity fund
The 3rd round of PRS' Sustaining Creativity Fund is now open for Black music creators impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
European Commission to support performing arts with €2,5 million for distribution
OpenCall for tender to support cross-border circulation & digital distribution of performing arts. Apply by 31 July, 2020.
ArtReach wants design and development for its European arts programme – LIBERTY EU.
ArtReach seek tenders from providers who can deliver design, development & build services to produce a website for its ambitious LIBERTY EU partnership. Deadline: 31 July, 2020.
Youth Music Incubator Fund
Youth Music announced its new Incubator Fund, which aims to support open up sustainable music career paths for 18-25 year-olds by offering grants of £5,000-30,000 for businesses, collectives and not-for-profits working in the music industries.
MOBO Help Musicians Fund
Successful applications get £3,000 plus business and health support. You must be in financial need, lack backing from labels/publishing or management and have worked in music for 12 months plus. The application deadline is 27 July.
Common Ground commissions
Season For Change, backed by Artsadmin and Julie's Bicycle, has an opportunity for four £10,000 commissions for work on "creative climate leadership, justice and equitable participation within the climate movement." It invites applicants who identify as Black, Asian and minority ethnic/POC, refugee, D/deaf, disabled, neurodivergent, working class and/or LGBTQI+, however "will not expect or require them to explore their identity in relation to these groups through the commission." Deadline is Thursday 30th July, 2020.
This week's to-do list:
Think about your taxes. The self-assessment payment deadline (for those making two payments a year) is the end of July (though SA payments can be deferred until January 2021, if required) - that's this coming Friday.