COVID-19: How can we support each other?

16 Jun 2020

Off The Record 

In Good Company has always been led by independent producers actively working in the industry to tour and develop new work and it is funded in exactly the same way as other project grants. As such we share many of the same concerns you may have.

We’re a small team, who are working really hard in these uncertain times to ensure our artists get paid and supported, and we expect you will be too. We thought we’d let you know our Facebook Messenger and DMs will be open for you to slide on in there and have an Off the Record Chat about your live projects, if you so wish.

Head over to Twitter or Facebook –

We will continue to do these Off the Record Chats with extra times/dates as the days goes on. The details will always be displayed on this post whilst still continuing to spread the word on In Good Company’s social media channels.

Next #OffTheRecord times are:

Wed 1st July 11am-12pm
Friday 3rd 2pm-3pm
Tuesday 7th 11am -12
Thursday 9th 3pm-4pm
Monday 13th 10am-11am
Thursday 16th 12-1pm
Tuesday 21st 11am-12pm

East Midlands Artists Corona Virus Impact Fund 

Over the last couple of months we have worked with Rafia, a freelance producer based in the East Midlands to fundraise for the East Midlands Artists Coronavirus Fund to support the artists/freelancers/self employed workers in the East Midlands who work in arts and culture. Inspired by the likes of Luke Barnes (Liverpool), Bryony Kimmings (London) & Amahra Spence (West Midlands) as well as the outpouring of kindness and community in response to the outbreak.

We were over the moon to say that this raised £2035 and this went directly to creatives that reached out because they have been affected by loss of income due to COVID-19.

Union producers have put together all of the current Hardship funds that have been set up across the country in one handy spreadsheet. Check this out if you need access to these funds or if you would like to donate.

More Useful Resources 

Right across the industry people are pulling together at this time of national crisis, we are collating case studies, resources, and examples of best practice. The list below has some of these in it, and we’ll be adding to it as the weeks go on. Email s.hack@derby.ac.uk to let us know about other things you’ve seen.

How To Amplify Your Voice as a freelancer

  • Freelancers Make Theatre Network. An inclusive community for the 200,000+ self-employed and freelance workers from all areas of theatre, opera, dance and live performance, who make up 70% of the UK theatre workforce.
  • Join your local What Next Chapter
  • This Is The Time – Independent Producer Louise Blackwell has compiled a document that is a snapshot of the creative industry’s independent workers: their needs, ideas, dreams and offers to support themselves and their industry.
  • Create your own support group
  • SOLT and UK Theatre have produced a latest letter template to send to your local MP advocating for what is needed for survival and recovery for the Theatre & performing arts sector. You can Find your local MP here.
  • Arts Council are continuing to work with the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) to help them get as much evidence as possible to effectively respond to the crisis. Complete this short survey for cultural freelancers and organisations so they can help them support you.
  • Complete the DCMS survey into the impact of COVID 19 – DEADLINE IS 19 JUNE.
  • Find out about the Cultural Renewal Task Force that’s been set up by the government.
  • Find out who is on your local Arts Council England Area Council.
  • Bethany Wells has been compiling a spreadsheet of resources, article, zoom calls. Check it out.
  • #WeShallNotBeRemoved. An emergency response to Covid19 by disabled people for disabled people in the creative industries. Register and join the conversation. Open to all individual D/deaf, neurodiverse and disabled creative practitioners and organisations, operating in UK arts, museums and film.

 Self employed or employed guidance

  • Latest statement & information from Arts Council regarding COVID -19
  • Information & advice from gov.uk 
  • Creatives working in Subsidised Theatre, Commercial Theatre & West End check out Equity’s website that is being continuenly updated.
  • Check if you can claim a grant through the Self – Employment Income Support Scheme through this GOV.UK grant eligibility checker 
  • Arts Council have created a concise webpage detailing the support that both the government and other professional bodies are offering individuals.
  • HMRC helpline for freelancers and business.
  • Theataccounts: Options flowchart is super handy and details the self employed/employee and employer options for creatives
  • Clore Leadership and Counterculture have created a webinar all around furloughing in the arts
  • Arts Council’s has created a toolkit on managing financial difficulties.

Documents/ useful templates 

Digital Resources/opportunities & Entertainment 

  • Digital Theatre Resources  – A brilliant document full of remote commissioning opportunities and details of performances that are being streamed.
  • The Culture in Quarantine Fund is a new commissioning strand launched by BBC Arts with Arts Council England to support England-based artists of any discipline to produce new works in creative media – video, audio and interactive – in spring 2020. For more info check it out here
  • Derby Theatre has launched DT @ Home, check out a range of backstage content, digital workshops & family activitie.
  • Join Attenborough Arts Creative Distancing Facebook group.
  •  Nonsuch Creative Quarantine – a  free daily email full of creative adventures & activities for all ages to do at home.
  • Curve have launched ‘The show must go online’ with loads of different digital content.
  • Check out Nottingham Playhouse’s and their very own Digital Playhouse full of digital resources.
  • Whats on Stage have compiled a fab list of theatre, dance & opera  that you can watch online for free.
  • If you need a 5 minute break take a look at these fantastic virtual tours of different museum exhibitions from around the world.
  • Eve Leigh has created a fantastic remote workshop for a digital body through a twitter thread, using all free resources.
  • Tim Clare has create a free Couch to 80k Writing Boot Camp that delivers a complete 8 week fiction writing course over 48 episodes. All it asks of you is 10 minutes writing each day!
  • For Parents, guardians & grandparents who are at home with children, Ditto Theatre Company  have placed their education packs online to help you keep them engaged and still learning from home. Specifically designed for KS1 & KS2, full of information, devising tasks & questions. Darwin the Chimp & Rocket Girl  
  • Each Thursday National Theatre live stream an NT production free of charge via Youtube. Available to access for that week only, see the line up here

Industry Support & Peer support 

  • Coronavirus Covid-19 Government Guidance Library
  • Theatre Helpline is a free, independent & confidential service that provides support to people working within the theatre industry. Call or email on 0800 915 4617 advice@theatrehelpline.org
  • Mind Charity have created an online article with advice & guidance around mental health during these uncertain times.
  • Leapers have created a guide full of useful tips & guidance of how to work well from home
  • The great John Kirby, programme officer at partner venue Attenborough Arts Centre, Leicester. John has set up a temporary twitter account to support artists/companies within the midlands, available for advice & help 9am-5pm, Mon- Fri, drop him a message!
  • Voluntary Arts have created a daily ‘Creative network’ Zoom, an online get together for all creatives to have the opportunity to talk to others dealing with the challenging current situation. Daily from  9.30am-10.30am.
  • UK Theatre Industry Coronavirus Support Facebook Group – A  group for the theatre industry, to share tips, advice and a space to chat.
  • Phil Hargreaves, Creative Producer at Deda is offering weekly artist & producer surgeries
  • West Midlands Cultural Response Unit 
  • Nic Connaughton has started a twitter thread, to reach out and ask what people need & what can people offer. Lots of creatives are offering their services free and everyone is discussing advice & tips.
  • Artist Wellbeing Practitioner, Lou Platt has written a series of articles around grief within the arts, have a read on her blog.
  • Culture Central is supporting individuals and organisations by facilitating a mentoring/buddy programme. More information here 
  • Join Serendipity to celebrate the contribution of the Windrush Generation and their descendants. You can find out more info here for their Windrush Event and forthcoming Book  Reflections publication.

    EMERGENCY FUNDS