The week in Creative Money (14 August, 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 sound financial guidance for creative workers and is written by me, Matt Parker, a music journalist and lecturer.
The week in Creative Money
14 August, 2020
Two exciting things happened on the site this week:
I ran an interview with Cabaret Voltaire-founder and electronic music innovator Stephen Mallinder. He was a great interviewee and really got the point of the site. As a result, some online people have been saying nice things about it and Creative Money in general. Several influential types have said that what Creative Money is doing is 'important', which is the first time anyone has described an activity of mine as such while not also demanding I pay a bill.
Having passed the first 1,000 page views on the site last week, I'm quite amazed to say that by the time you read this, it'll be comfortably over the 2,000 mark. Thanks very much for making that happen. If you like what you read here and on the site, please keep passing it on. It's really motivating and it all helps me to make a more convincing case when trying to land future features and figure out how I can keep this going.
There's been a fair bit of music content on the site, lately, but there are lots of things in the pipeline on more universal subjects (for instance, using online funding/membership platforms, making sense of creative unions, building emergency funds etc.) as well as plans for interviewees from the TV, theatre and dance worlds, too, all of which will roll out down the line.
I'm still figuring out what works best for people and what I can manage alongside my regular gigs, so please bear with me for the time being.
This does, however, bring me to a request...
Read the site? Have opinions on things? I want to talk to you!
I'm looking to chat to some readers about their headaches regarding the crossover of creative lifestyles and personal finances, as well as what works or not for you about the site itself.
This could be via phone/Zoom or email and will have a real influence on the site's content and approach over the coming months. If you'd be up for this, please get in touch on creativemoneycontact@gmail.com and I'll email you back to discuss details.
Until next time,
Matt
On the site this week:
How I Make It Work: Stephen Mallinder (Caberet Voltaire, Wrangler, Creep Show)
The electronic music pioneer on how he has adapted to survive and thrive while making music (or, sometimes, in spite of it...)
What do you need to know this week?
How do benefits and sick pay work if you are self-employed? (Times Money Mentor)
Re-Imagining the Concert Hall in a Post-Covid World (free online TED Event on 19 August, 2020)
Free feedback/pointers for working class artists applying for Arts Council grants
Northern Broadsides is fundraising in order to put on productions employing UK theatre freelancers
Grants and funding opportunities
CLOSING: 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. Deadline: 14 August, 2020
CLOSING: British Council Arts/BFI Films For Freedom grants
The British Council Arts has partnered with BFI Network/BFI Flare for a second year to offer three commissions of up to £20,000 to make an LGBTIQ+ themed short film in an international collaboration. The three films will be eligible to screen at next year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival in March. Deadline: 16 August, 2020.
CLOSING: Up to £25K grants for British Council Arts UK in Australia season
All or part of the project must be presented in Australia between 1 September 2021 to 13 March 2022 and align with the theme ‘Who are we now?’ Deadline: 17 August, 2020.
CLOSING: Work/Leisure wants has put out a call for new and mid-career artists
Work/Leisure is inviting emerging and mid-career artists, living and working in the UK/Europe, to create new work in 2020. Successful applicants will be provided with an overall budget of £1500 and administrative and curatorial support from the W/L team, Abingdon Studios, and residency partners. Deadline: 17 August, 2020.
Arts Council Cultural Recovery Fund grants
Grants of £50,000 to £3 million for cultural organisations that were financially stable before Covid-19, but are now at imminent risk of failure. 75% of the budget will go on first round of funding. Deadline: 21 August, 2020 (second round opens 21 August - 4 September, 2020)
€1.5 million for Cinemas as Innovation Hubs for Local Communities
The Commission is launching a €1.5M call for proposals to create innovative cultural hubs around cinema theatres, notably in areas where the Covid-19 crisis has had a very strong impact. Deadline: 21 August, 2020
Jerwood Art Fund Makers Open 2021
Jerwood Art Fund Makers Open 2021 has five £5,000 grants for early-career UK-based artists and makers to develop and present ambitious new works. Deadline: 26 August, 2020
Gimlet Media mentorship program for BIPOC podcasters
Gimlet podcasters will offer free informational and training sessions to help amplify diverse voices in podcasting. Please share and apply! (US firm but no national restriction listed) Deadline: 28 August, 2020
HelpMusicians Financial Hardship Funding Phase 2
Support for music professionals facing hardship due to COVID-19 and excluded from the government's furlough and SEISS schemes. Deadline: 31 October, 2020
CAN Do Creatives free training for unemployed artists in Greater Manchester
CAN is offering free training for unemployed creatives and community leaders who use the arts to empower their communities. Covers employment, project planning, marketing and more. Deadline: 4 September, 2020
Silent Uproar Writer's Support Plan for theatre writers
Silent Uproar has earmarked £20,000 to support writers who meet one or more of the following criteria: born, raised and/or live in the North of England; have already completed one full-length production (60+ mins) and/or one full-length commission; whose identity is currently under-represented in modern theatre. Deadline: 12 September, 2020
Society Of Authors' Audio Drama Imison Award
A prize of £3,000 for audio drama scripts by a writer new to the medium which were broadcast or made available online between 1 October 2019 and 31 October 2020. Deadline: 4 October, 2020
Unlimited launches new commission round for disabled artists
Unlimited is an arts commissioning programme that enables new work by disabled artists to reach UK and international audiences. They will have £500,000 to commission work from disabled artists and companies in three strands: Main Commission awards, Research and Development awards and Emerging Artists awards. Applications don't open until October, but they're getting the word out nice and early. Deadline: 27 October, 2020
Hope Mill Theatre Through The Mill Playwrighting Prize
Opportunity for writers to have their work fully produced by and at Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester. Winner will receive a monetary prize of £5,000 plus one-to-one mentoring with award winning writer Jonathan Harvey (Beautiful Thing, Hushabye Mountain). Deadline: 27 November, 2020.
Royal Variety Charity Financial Assistance grants
The Royal Variety Charity is uniquely positioned to provide financial assistance to anyone who serves any facet of the Entertainment Industry. Deadline: ongoing
This week's to-do list:
If you're self-employed, I hereby call on you to do yourself a favour and complete your 19-20 tax return calculation ASAP. This year, of all years, you don't want to leave it until January (and be unsure of how much you'll owe or where the cash is coming from). This is as much a note to myself as everyone else... Tax pact?