Hey hi hello from Annie Nightingale CBE
The week in Creative Money - 29 January, 2021
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 relatable financial guidance for creative workers and is written by me, Matt Parker, a music journalist and lecturer.
Hello! This week I’ve posted a piece I’ve been hanging on to for some time. It’s an excerpt of a conversation I had last year with legendary BBC broadcaster, Annie Nightingale CBE.
I was originally talking to Annie for my day job as a music journalist, this time for the superb Electronic Sound magazine. I don’t ask everyone I interview for Creative Money material and I’m always really clear about my intentions for the material, as I appreciate these can be sensitive topics. However, we were both enjoying this conversation and, when I explained my aims with the site/newsletter, she was happy to continue talking.
Read: How I Make It Work: Annie Nightingale (CBE)
We spoke about everything from her Christmas job at C&A to the impact of childcare on women’s careers and earning prospects. She was, as you might expect, a fantastic person to interview.
I realise as a straight, white male I’m discussing the themes of discrimination in the media industry from a place of privilege. I don’t know what that feels like, but I have seen sexism and racism directly impact friends and family in the creative industries. It seems to me that it is precisely my demographic that needs to be having these conversations – to become conscious of situations that we may not otherwise encounter and try to understand how we can help to effect change.
You’ll find the rest of the news – which is quite tax-flavoured this week – and the latest funding round-up below, as usual. I hope it’s useful. As ever, if you enjoy the newsletter or know someone else who might, please pass it on!
Until next time,
Matt
What do you need to know this week?
Today is your last chance to apply for the third SEISS grant (Gov)
“I’m working way too hard for too little money. How do I fix this?” (Being Freelance)
HMRC is waving late filing fees on self-assessment returns until 28 February, 2021 (MoneySavingExpert)
The freelancer’s guide to monetising your newsletter (Underpinned)
Is coronavirus a valid excuse for a late tax return? (Which?)
Grants and funding opportunities for UK creative workers
CLOSING: Comic Art Europe Open Call
Comic Art Europe launches a call for projects for European authors on the theme “Visions of tomorrow”. Selected artists will be awarded a €5,000 grant and a two-week residency. Deadline 31 January, 2021
NEW: Home/Manchester City Council Fund for Arts Freelancers
A discretionary fund to support freelancers working in the creative and cultural sectors who are facing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19. The charity is making up to £500,000 available in grants of £1,500 to individual freelancers. OPENS: 1 February, 2021
CLOSING: Youth Music Incubator Fund
Grants of £5,000 - £30,000 to businesses, collectives and not-for-profits working in the music industries to open up sustainable music careers for 18-25yr olds. Deadline: 5 February, 2021
CLOSING: Fair Earth Creative Entrepreneurs Fund
The entrepreneurs fund is a £10,000 grant awarded to one inspiring entrepreneur, along with a mentor, to help set up their own business. Deadline: 14 February, 2021
Maltings Theatre Our Towns Theatre Fund
Grants of £500-£5,000 open to artists living in South East towns who want to create artistic work where they live, with and for their town community. Deadline: 15 February, 2021
Arts Council Developing Your Creative Practice
The fund supports creative practitioners thinking of taking their practice to the next stage to research, have time to create new work, travel, training, develop ideas, network or find mentoring. Deadline: 18 February, 2021
Sheffield Culture Consortium Freelance Art + Cultural Workers Fund
Open to all freelancers working in the creative and arts sector who, live or work in Sheffield. Awards between £500 and £2,000 are available, with a total fund of £52k. Deadline: 21 February, 2021
Dance Professionals Fund
Grants of up to £2,000 for dancers, dance teachers and choreographers affected by Covid. Applicants must be able to show that they were recently in paid employment in the dance profession up to the start of COVID-19 restrictions. Deadline: March, 2021
Society of Authors Contingency Fund
Helps writers, illustrators, literary translators, scriptwriters, poets, journalists and others, whose author-related activities make up a substantial amount of their annual income. Grants range in value from £500 to £2,000. Deadline: ongoing
ArtCry grants
ArtCry is setup to provide a rapid turnaround of funding for art works responding to current events. Grants of up to £5,000 with a panel of artists, activists, creators and producers making decisions on applications within a week. Deadline: ongoing
Help Musicians Hardship Fund
The third phase of one of the major support funds for musicians is now open and will support successful applicants with a monthly top-up until March 2021. Deadline: ongoing
Actor's Children Trust hardship grants
ACT continues to pay Corona-crisis grants of £300 per family per month towards food and bills, as well as specific grants for children’s costs. Please use the contact form so we can check your eligibility as an actor under ACT’s criteria. Deadline: ongoing
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
The White Pube Writers Grant funded by Creative Debuts
£500 given out monthly to a working class writer based in the UK. This grant has been set up to support writers of all ages who are early in their careers and would benefit from this no-strings attached financial support to help them in whatever they like. Deadline: ongoing
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