Should you have a mentor?
The week in Creative Money - 26 March, 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 been chatting mentoring with Isabel Sachs from I Like Networking.
At its core, mentoring in the creative industries is about opening up the roles in which we get paid to do work we like or care about – and that is important to me.
I had several editors and managers who took an interest in helping me get better (with unnerving clarity) during my early days in music journalism. I’ve also been a mentor on the Freelancing For Journalists work experience scheme and last week appeared on a panel talking about entry routes to journalism (shout-out to my fellow panelist Chandni Sembhi who runs the ace So You Want To Be A Journalist? Instagram). Suffice to say it has been very much on my mind lately.
Creative work is not a corporate ladder. There is no clear talent pipeline and it can be really difficult to identify genuinely useful opportunities, contacts and reasonable rates. A mentor can help with all of this.
More often than not, though, you just need someone you can go to without the fear that you’re asking a ‘stupid question’. I say this as someone who has extensive experience asking stupid questions.
This all brings me to Isabel Sachs, who got in touch to let me know that her organisation, I Like Networking, has reopened its mentoring scheme for women and non-binary people in the creative industries. This is a great initiative and one in which it is free to apply and take part.
Isabel kindly agreed to answer some questions about the process and benefits of mentoring, which has formed the basis of a new guide on the site. Head to the link below to find out more about mentoring…
Read the new guide: Mentoring and the creative industries - how can a mentor help you?
In the meantime, keep an eye on the newsletter. I will mention free mentorship schemes for various creative sectors whenever I spot them.
Until next time,
Matt
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What do you need to know this week?
The UK Music Creator’s Survey is now open. Tell them how you earn and work in the music industry (UK Music)
Arts Council Funding workshops for producers – free but book ASAP as places limited (The Uncultured)
'I got a job on a fishing trawler' – Covid: one year on, stars of music and theatre look back (The Guardian)
Bleurgh… 38,000 fewer freelancers in the creative industries since the start of 2020 (Centre For Cultural Value)
And finally, perhaps not unrelated to the above… Where can you get the cheapest wine? (Which?)
Grants and funding opportunities for UK creative workers
CLOSING: A Writing Chance bursary/mentorship scheme
Looking for new and aspiring writers from working-class and lower income backgrounds to take part in A Writing Chance. 10 successful applicants will gain a bursary of £1,500, one-to-one mentoring with an experienced writer and the chance of a byline in national print or online publications. Deadline: 26 March, 2021
Four winners will receive a prize fund of £20,000 and consultancy from a music industry professional to mentor them on their next move. Upload a 90-second video introduction and perform your song to enter. There are two deadlines on the page - 7 and 13 April, 2021, so safest to assume the earlier… Deadline: 7 April, 2021
NEW: Northern Stage Out On The Toon call-out for theatre makers
Support for up to 10 theatre makers, theatre companies or theatre artists to present work that will be available for people to enjoy in their own neighbourhoods across the North East throughout June. Offers a commission of up to £2,500. Deadline: 12 April, 2021
NEW: Help Musicians Transmission Fund
Transmission can provide £1,500 to support opportunities that enhance your skills or artistic practice. This could be a virtual conference to learn more about the industry, an online course to enhance your skills, 1:1 coaching or an online masterclass with an expert, or perhaps some time to work with a mentor. Deadline: 12 April, 2021
Elan Valley Creative Wales Fellowship Award 2021-22
Offers established creative practitioners, based in Wales, a chance to experiment and develop their practice, while giving them time away from usual commitments in a beautiful, inspiring setting. The Fellowship includes six months’ accommodation within a one-year period, and a £9,000 bursary. Deadline: 25 June, 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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