Date:   Written by: Wales Arts Review  Posted in: News, The Big Read,
advice for freelancers

Live Blog | Advice for Freelancers

Welcome to Wales Arts Review’s Live Advice for Freelancers who work in arts, culture, and other creative sectors. This is a thread that will build and develop as events progress over the next hours, days and weeks, bringing together as much important advice on how to get through periods of self-isolation, distancing, and sickness. Being a freelancer in the arts is a precarious business at the best of times, and with wide-spread cancellations and postponements of live events, performances, release dates, and exhibitions, income streams will be under even more pressure in the near future.

Here we hope to centralise advice that we hope will help.

If you have information you think we should be including on this thread, don’t hesitate to send us a message on Twitter, Facebook, or email gary@walesartsreview.org

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Literature Wales has put together some useful links to organisations that help writers out in times of hardship, about halfway down their Covid-19 page which you can find here – it includes links to the Society of Authors and the Royal Literary Fund.

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What Next? a UK arts networking group, have posted a very useful “Coronavirus Resource Pack” which pulls together many streams of advice and support. You can find it here.

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Warnings from banks have been going out about scam emails directing people to “government advice during this difficult time”. Stay vigilant, always double check the source of an email, and never click on a link.

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Information on support for businesses from Welsh Government from the Business Wales website.

 

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Important update from Arts Council of Wales can be found here, including an announcement that they’re postponing the investment review for 12 months.

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A 24 hour support line has been set up by Film + TV Charity.

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Wales Arts Review has set up a crowdfunder to create an emergency fund of bursaries for artists and freelancers who have had their incomes significantly impacted by the cancellations of projects due to the coronavirus.

You donate here.

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University of South Wales have published a very interesting paper on their website:

Creativity under huge constraint: how are other small nations creative sectors coping with Coronavirus?

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Statement made by Ffilm Cymru can be read in full here.

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A statement from the BFI about how they plan to support to the industry can be found here.

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A statement from Arts Council of Wales:

 

The full ACW statement can be found on their website here. It includes progress reports and advice for artists and arts organisations in Wales.

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An explainer from the BBC, dated March 11th, in relation to the recent Budget –

What benefits were announced for the self-employed who get coronavirus or have to self-isolate?

 

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UK Government update – Coronavirus support for employees, benefit claimants and businesses

 

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Advice from the Musicians Union on Coronavirus – advice on health and contractual matters can be found here.

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Call out from Labour MP Tracy Brabin

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Statement from the Working Class Artists Group

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Brighton-based artist Bryony Kimmings is offering a service that is matching artists hit financially by COVID-19 with people who can potentially help – follow her on Twitter, and follow the #gigaid hashtag.

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Statement from Arts Council England:

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The Paul Hamlyn Foundation have issued this statement:

Advice for Freelancers

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Important update from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation:

Advice for Freelancers

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Here is a petition you can sign:

Include self-employed in statutory sick pay during Coronavirus

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Something sent via Ffilm Cymru’s Bizzy Day on Twitter (via Facebook) that might point you in the direction of moneysupermarket

Advice for Freelancers

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The Stage is running a live blog for UK-wide advice for people who work in theatre, how the industry is being impacted, and how it’s responding.

Coronavirus: breaking news and live updates as the theatre industry responds

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HELP US BUILD THIS ADVICE BLOG.

If you have information you think we should be including on this thread, don’t hesitate to send us a message on Twitter, Facebook, or email gary@walesartsreview.org

 

And if you’ve got everything you need, then check out our self-isolation playlist to help you through there days.