Today, Arts Council of Wales reminded potential applicants that its Stabilisation Fund for Individuals closes at 5pm, Monday 15 June. The fund is an important part of the Arts Council’s overall support to the country’s creative community during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Stabilisation Fund for Individuals supports self-employed artists and freelance creative practitioners working in the not-for-profit sector in Wales. The focus of the fund is to support those who are trying to survive the threat to their livelihoods caused by the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic. Funds are intended to help those working individually in the arts to maintain, sustain and further develop their creative practice despite current restrictions.
Nick Capaldi, Chief Executive of Arts Council of Wales said:
“We want to do everything we can to help individual artists and arts organisations to survive the COVID 19 emergency and get back on their feet. Freelance artists and creators are the ultimate “gig workers”, moving from project to project to find the next pay‑cheque. Most have had 100% of their work cancelled. They are without income and without promise of work. Yet these individual creative professionals are the lifeblood of the arts and should be recognised for the essential contribution they make to the creative industries in Wales.”
He added:
“The response of the Welsh Government and the funding that we’ve received - thanks to National Lottery players - has been magnificent. We welcome too the contributions of Tŷ Cerdd, Literature Wales and the Freelands Foundation which have enabled us to increase the available funds.”
The Arts Council of Wales has now awarded £4m to individuals and organisations from the first two strands of its Arts Resilience Fund with £909,000 having been awarded to individuals from the Urgent response fund for individuals with 77% of applications successful. All grants to individuals have now been distributed.
The Stabilisation fund for organisations received 136 applications with 90% of the applications being successful, and a total of £3.1m currently being distributed as grants.
The Arts Council of Wales has now awarded £4m to individuals and organisations from the first two strands of its Arts Resilience Fund.
More information
- Arts Council of Wales is the official public body charged with funding and supporting the arts in Wales.
- The Stabilisation Fund for Individuals is one of three strands of the Arts Council of Wales’s overall Arts Resilience Fund. This fund has been set up by Arts Council and the Welsh Government and includes funding from the National Lottery and contributions from Tŷ Cerdd, Literature Wales and the Freelands Foundation. The total value of the Arts Resilience Fund is £7.5m.
- The Freelands Foundation’s £0.5m contribution is part of the Foundation’s landmark commitment of £3m towards emergency funds for artists and freelance creative practitioners across the UK affected by the Covid-19 crisis. The Freelands Foundation was set up in 2015 for the purpose of encouraging greater public engagement with and enjoyment for the arts in the UK. For further information, visit: www.freelandsfoundation.co.uk
- The Resilience Fund for Individuals opened for applications on Friday 29 May 2020. Applicants will need to have submitted an online application no later than the deadline of 5.00pm on 15 June 2020.
- Thanks to National Lottery players, £30 million is raised every week across the UK for good causes, many of whom will be supporting the most vulnerable in communities during the Coronavirus crisis.