Free Resources for Artists
We have compiled a list of links to resources that might be useful for
freelance creatives and artists during the current Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
The information below is shared in goodwill and AOH are not responsible for the content
of third party websites or the advice provided within. If you have a resource you think
artists would benefit from, please let us know and we will add below.
Stay safe
Arts Council England
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19
ACE are making £20 million available to individuals working in the cultural sector, including artists, creative practitioners and freelancers. This funding is now closed
Digital skill development from Arts Council England https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/developing-digital-culture/digital-culture-network
As part of Arts Council England’s Digital Culture Network, those running a business in the arts and culture sector can get in touch with the network’s Tech Champions for guidance on boosting digital skills. Free resources and webinars are promised too.
Artists Newsletter (A-N) https://www.a-n.co.uk/news/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-guidance-for-artists-and-arts-organisers/
A-N have gathered a useful selection of guidance, support and advice from across the arts sector, plus wider government and NHS guidance, following the coronavirus Covid-19 outbreak for artists and arts workers, including bridging bursaries and ways to make your voice heard in the sector.
South East Visual Arts Network (CVAN)
CVAN are sharing useful links on their Twitter feed, which is being updated daily with news and information for the sector.
AOI Association of Illustrators
https://theaoi.com/illustrators-and-covid-19/
Excellent clear information on Covid-19 for Illustrators. Guide to financial, emotional and practical support. Illustrators may be able to access funds through the Authors’s Emergency Fund – open to illustrators as well as authors. You do not need to be a member of either SoA or AOI to apply.
Crafts Council: Supporting the Craft Community at this time.
https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/articles/crafts-council-gallery-opening-postponement/
Resources and updates from the Crafts Council for makers. Includes information about government schemes. Also running Makers Meet-up sessions on Zoom, and providing Craft for Home School resources https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/articles/craft-for-home-school1/
Artist Support Pledge
https://www.instagram.com/artistsupportpledge/
A culture of generosity for artists founded by Sussex-based Matthew Burrows – Sell art for under £200 via the hashtag #ArtistSupportPledge and when you make £1000, spend £200 with another artist.
Post your image/s on your Instagram account
If possible use the ARTIST SUPPORT PLEDGE image and text by reposting or using a screenshot.
Give details of the work and price
Ask for anyone interested to DM you
Add #artistsupportpledge
Follow the #
When you have sold £1000 worth of work fulfil the pledge and spend £200 on another artist.
Artist Activity Packs
https://firstsite.uk/art-is-where-the-home-is/
Firstsite’s artist created activity packs feature contributions from UK artists including Antony Gormley, Sarah Lucas, Gillian Wearing, Idris Khan, Richard Wentworth, Cornelia Parker, Jeremy Deller, Vanley Burke, Mark Wallinger and more.
‘Art is where the home is’ will give you ideas about how to get creative at home – there are no specialist materials required. Download FREE here https://firstsite.uk/art-is-where-the-home-is/
Artist Open Calls Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/1592211484404009/ Post Artist opportunities, Call For Entries, Open Call, Residency, Arts Job, Artist Opps
ArtRabbit Artist Opportunitites https://www.artrabbit.com/artist-opportunities “A selection of international open calls and opportunities for contemporary art related competitions, prizes, exhibitions, awards, proposals, and grants for artists, writers and curators.”
ArtLicks Opportunities http://artlicks.com/opportunities
ArtQuest opportunities https://www.artquest.org.uk/opportunities/ “Updated daily from a huge selection of magazines, newsletters, emails, submissions and tips from artists. Only high-quality, fair opportunities are listed, and never for advertising fees.”
Bursaries
A-N Artists Newsletter
“Bringing forward the next round of a-n Artist Bursaries, & also announcing new funding for artists & arts organisers who make exhibitions happen […] Working with Arts Council England to distribute £300,000 of financial support for artists and arts organisers who make exhibitions happen. Follow a-n on social media for updates.”
Hardship and Emergency Funds
The Artist General Benevolent Fund (Artists) https://www.agbi.org.uk/
The Eaton Fund http://www.eaton-fund.co.uk/help-artists.asp Small grants available for artists and students working in the visual arts fields, including painting, sculpture, ceramics, print-making, photography, and video installations.
Other Funders, Funding Sources, and Commissions
Unlimited https://weareunlimited.org.uk/contingencies-for-coronavirus/ Commissions, awards and support, for artists with disabilities. They have increased the number of external blogs they are commissioning plus offering micro commissions.
Disability Arts Online https://disabilityarts.online/magazine/news/disability-arts-online-announces-new-commissions-for-disabled-artists/ Have announced new commissions for disabled Artists including a new commissions pot of £8000 for disabled artists to do online/digital work/artist talks etc plus online artist development sessions too.”
South East Creatives Top Up Grants https://www.southeastcreatives.co.uk/grants If you are sole trader or company trading in the creative, cultural or digital sector you can apply for a Top-up Grants. If you’re looking to spend between £3k and £4k, South East Creatives could fund 35% of your costs.
Edge Fund https://www.edgefund.org.uk/ “is a grant-making body who support efforts to achieve social, economic and environmental justice and to end imbalances in wealth and power – and give those we aim to help a say in where the money goes.”
Edge Fund: Other Funders https://www.edgefund.org.uk/other_funders A list of funders who support similar work to Edge Fund. These “tend to fund more formally set up groups (eg constituted or registered charity) and work that is considered ‘charitable’”
Brighton & Hove Arts & Creative Industries Commission
UK Government: Covid-19 Guidance for Employees and the Self Employed
Includes information on claiming Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), or Employment Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit if you are self-employed.
UK Government: Self Employed Income Support Scheme (26th March)
A taxable grant of 80% of the average monthly profit over the last three years, per month. Open to anyone with trading profits UP TO 50K p/a. Coming at the beginning of June 2020, money will be backdated.
You can still access Business Interruption Loans, apply for Universal Credit or ESA. Advance payments can be given, you don’t necessarily have to wait for 5 weeks for payment.
UK Government: Universal Credit, Coronavirus and claiming benefits
understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/
UK Government Guidance: Universal Credit for the self-employed
General information on how to claim Universal Credit when self-employed (or a mix of self-employed and employed.
HMRC and Tax
MRC: Difficulties Paying HMRC https://www.gov.uk/difficulties-paying-hmrc
HMRC Tax helpline to support businesses affected by coronavirus If you run a business or are self-employed and are concerned about paying your tax due to coronavirus, you can call HMRC Coronavirus Helpline for help and advice. Telephone: 0800 024 1222 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm, Saturday, 8am to 4pm. This is a helpline for sole traders and the self-employed.
Rent and Mortgages
UK Government: Complete ban on evictions and additional protection for renters https://www.gov.uk/government/news/complete-ban-on-evictions-and-additional-protection-for-renters Government announced a package of measures to protect renters and landlords affected by coronavirus.
Mortgage holidays If you are experiencing loss of income or have been asked to negotiate pay deduction and or reduced hours – you can speak to your mortgage company and get a three month mortgage holiday. https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/mortgage-payment-holidays
Support for Businesses and Companies
UK Government: Covid-19 support for business
Includes information on grants, business loans and the emergency support from the government for small businesses.
The measures to support businesses include:
- a Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
- deferring VAT and Income Tax payments
- a Self-employment Income Support Scheme
- a Statutory Sick Pay relief package for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs)
- small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief
- the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme
- UK Government: Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (ie, ‘Furlough’ Employees)
Check if you could be covered by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme Find out if you’re eligible, and how much your employer can claim if they put you on temporary leave (“furlough”) because of coronavirus .
UK Government advice to Employers: Claim for wage costs through the coronavirus job retention scheme https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme
Government loans for businesses.
Advice on applying for a coronavirus Business Interruption Loan smallbusiness.co.uk/how-do-i-apply-for-a-coronavirus-business-interruption-loan
Debt and Financial Advice
Artquest https://www.artquest.org.uk/how-to-articles/benefits-for-self-employed-people/ Artquest : Benefits for self-employed people and benefits you can claim whilst working.
Money Advice Service https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/coronavirus-and-your-money
Coronavirus and your money includes useful information about
Universal Credit for the Self Employed and information on other benefits
Citizens Advice Bureau https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/health/coronavirus-what-it-means-for-you/ and and https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/ Independent and impartial advice on help, finance and benefits.
Shelter https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/coronavirus
Housing advice: coronavirus. Includes information and help on eviction, rent payment problems, benefits and other financial help.
Business Debt Line https://www.businessdebtline.org/EW/factsheets/Pages/coronavirus/advice-and-help.aspx
Business Debtline offer free, impartial and confidential debt advice to small businesses and the self-employed.
MoneySaving Expert https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/uk-coronavirus-help-and-your-rights/ Coronavirus finance and bills help. No nonsense advice, constantly updated. Includes: Financial help with Mortgages, credit cards and loans, help for, your rights as an employee or self-employed worker, cancellations, subscriptions etc
Step Change Debt Charity https://www.stepchange.org/debt-info/emergency-funding Lots of information about how to access help if you – or someone you know – is in a cash crisis situation and urgently needs money for food or other essentials.
Zoom Popular video conferencing with a free tier that allows group calls of up to 40 minutes.
Google Hangouts and Google Meet Google have made some of their Hangout / Meet tools free until July https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/g-suite/helping-businesses-and-schools-stay-connected-in-response-to-coronavirus
Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/facebookmedia/solutions/facebook-live
Introduction to live streaming
https://support.google.com/youtube/answer/2474026?hl=en
A guide to hosting virtual events on YouTube:
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/marketing-resources/hosting-virtual-events/ (Digital Events Playbook: downloadable guide)
Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE)
https://www.ipse.co.uk/ipse-news/news-listing/coronavirus-ipse-activity-and-advice-freelancers.html Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed. Membership org, not-for-profit professional body. Campaigning on freelance issues + putting pressure on government.
Creative Industries Federation
https://www.creativeindustriesfederation.com/news/covid-19-guidance-sector
Membership body that represents, champions and supports the UK’s creative industries. network of member organisations, policy and advocacy work, UK-wide events programme, cross sector in the creative industries. Currently offering six months free membership to freelancers.
Creative Entrepreneurs Club
https://creativeentrepreneursclub.co.uk
“It’s time for us to band together as one creative industry to overcome the challenges we’re facing in the wake of COVID-19. We may not have all of the answers, but we do have the capability, the will, and the graft to make certain that we as an industry can survive and thrive… removed the member fee from this platform in order to offer the wider creative community a place to organise work and provide support around mental health, advice, and more.”
Arts Professional
“Stay well, supported and creative: our new microsite for Covid-19 updates In uncertain times, ArtsProfessional will be providing regular updates on projects and resources to support wellbeing, careers and creativity in the arts.”
Arts Marketing Association
https://www.a-m-a.co.uk/covid-19-resources/
Running free webinars open to members and non-members alike. Recordings available.
Covid Mutual Aid UK
Covid Mutual Aid UK is a group of volunteers supporting local community groups organising mutual aid throughout the Covid-19 outbreak in the UK. We focus on providing resources and connecting people to their nearest local groups, willing volunteers and those in need.
Mutual Aid Community Facebook Groups https://airtable.com/shrUCI7eE8xDqXLEx/tblFqGvhbICXwl493/viwenxDwDhhfOUiQu?blocks=hide A list of community Facebook groups across the UK, for coordinating the
Putting courses online (and why you should do it badly) Rebecca Barrett-Fox https://anygoodthing.com/2020/03/12/please-do-a-bad-job-of-putting-your-courses-online/ An amazing article about the realities of trying to transition fast to online teaching at a time when everyone is stressed, and sick. Read this first.
Curator Space: Call for art workshops and courses for new online listing https://www.curatorspace.com/opportunities/detail/call-for-art-workshops-and-courses-for-new-online-listing/4357 “CuratorSpace is developing a new (free) service for artists who have experience delivering workshops. This service will allow them to set up, organise and promote online courses through CuratorSpace to our international database and social media following. The service will be made available for free for 6 months to support artists who are struggling to make a living due the loss of income from face-to-face workshops.
Open Culture http://www.openculture.com/2020/03/use-your-time-in-isolation-to-learn-everything-youve-always-wanted-to.html Database of Free Online Courses, Audio Books, eBooks, Movies, Coloring Books & More http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
MCN Guide to Virtual Museum Resources http://mcn.edu/a-guide-to-virtual-museum-resources
Coursera https://www.coursera.org/ Free to join, some courses free, you can get a certificate from Universities if you complete. Select ‘audit’ option for the free version.
Audible Stories https://stories.audible.com/start-listen For as long as schools are closed, we’re open. Starting today, kids everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Japanese) for free, so they can keep learning, dreaming and just being kids.
The Make Bank https://www.themakebank.org.uk A social project which addresses issues associated with creative poverty, enabling disadvantaged young people to pursue creative educations and careers. Provides Art and Design Kits for disadvantaged pupils who want to pursue creative education and a creative career.
Remote Work Survival Kit https://remoteworksurvivalkit.co.uk/
Comprehensive document of resources for working from home, including technical advice, logistics, mental health etc
Coronavirus Tech Handbook https://coronavirustechhandbook.com/home
Evolving resource for technologists, civic organisations, public & private institutions, including resources for librarians, and for people working from home
FutureLearn: Digital Skills for the Workplace
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/collections/digital-skills-workplace
A collection of FREE short courses (4h/week, 2 weeks) includes collaborative remote working course, and social media marketing. “Discover essential digital skills such as coding, design, marketing and using data, or focus on professional skills such as great communication, resilience and working remotely.”
Wikimedia Foundation: WikiProject Remote Event Participation https://meta.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiProject_remote_event_participation
Article from Wikimedia Foundation, listing all the different remote and collaborative working tools out there and an overview of what they do.
Trello – How to embrace remote work https://info.trello.com/embrace-remote-work-ultimate-guide Tips, strategies, and advice from the world’s leading companies on how to embrace remote work.
Buffer – Everything we know about remote work https://open.buffer.com/remote-work/ Comprehensive list of articles on remote work published by a fully remote digital social company. See also A Guide To Conquering Remote Work Loneliness from Remote Workers Around the World https://open.buffer.com/remote-work-loneliness/
Zapier – Guide to remote work https://zapier.com/learn/remote-work/ A huge collection of resources on working remotely, managing remote team and collaboration tools that you can also download as an eBook or PDF
The Social Distancing Festival https://www.socialdistancingfestival.com/ The Social Distancing Festival is an online artist’s community made to celebrate and showcase the work of the many artists around the world who have been affected by the need for social distancing that has come about due to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Grayson Perry’s Art Club https://www.swanfilms.tv/2020/03/enter-your-artwork-here/ “@Alan_Measles “Please join my Art Club. I’m inviting the nation to my studio. I’ll be showing you what I’m up to, talking to other artists and I want you to send me images of what you are making #C4ArtClub@Channel4 here is where you can upload your art https://bit.ly/2UwlQyG
Fermynwoods Isolated Moments http://fermynwoods.org/tag/isolated-moments/ Creative prompts set by artists. “We’ve asked some of our staff and artists to provide online workshops, prompts and tutorials for our series Isolated Moments, to keep spirits buoyed and creativity alive during COVID-19 global social isolating and quarantining measures
Get Creative at Home https://getcreativeuk.com Festival of participatory creativity goes online, is providing a central hub for listing online events and activities around arts and creativity at home. Linked to the BBC’s Quarantine Culture festival.
Quarantine Book Club https://www.quarantinebookclub.com Talk to authors without touching anyone. Chats happen over Zoom. After getting a ticket you’ll be sent a login link two hours before the event.
Free online courses from American Ivy League Universities https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/ivy-league-free-online-courses-a0d7ae675869/?fbclid=IwAR1s-fFbDf3Db1wj03ggHXMBk27troACqkTJKkQY5Kgg97LU0J41f2CUEf4
Ivy League courses you can take online right now for free
Isolation Art School https://www.instagram.com/isolationartschool/
Creative community. Projects, lessons and tips by artists to help people get creative while housebound during Covid19 crisis. #isolationartschool @artistsupportpledge
Art Monthly https://twitter.com/ArtMonthly/status/1241312813127213056 “We have made 3 recent issues of Art Monthly available for free in their entirety via our digital partner, Exact Editions. You can read these issues either online or through the ‘Exactly’ iOS/Android app” https://shop.exacteditions.com/art-monthly
Learn a language
Duolingo offers 94 different language courses, including 35 for English speakers, and all courses, lessons, and levels are totally free.
Creative
Friday Art Club https://www.fridayart.club/
Weekly remote art club
At Home Alone https://www.athomealone.co.uk/ A round up website of the all things you can do during isolation or lockdown.
What Artists Listen To https://www.whatartistslistento.com
Podcast that explores the stories and soundtracks of artist’s lives
Goldsmiths CCA https://goldsmithscca.art/channels/ Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art videos of recent talks
Create to Connect from Do Think Share http://dothinkshare.com/creative-inspiration/create-to-connect/ 14 days of daily creative challenge prompts.
Get outdoors, indoors with Virtual Garden Visits
National Open Gardens Scheme
In the current Coronavirus crisis, when our beautiful gardens are closed, the National Garden Scheme and its garden owners are working to bring the gardens to life for you with virtual garden visits, gardening tips and great stories.
Candide Gardening
https://candidegardening.com/GB/places
Listen in on the secrets of selected gardens from their head gardeners. offers audio tours take you through seasonal planting, histories and stories. Includes West Dean Gardens
A Night at the Opera, Ballet or Theatre
Many live venues are streaming events from the archives for free. Here is a selection of sites to visit
The National Theatre
https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/ Join the NT on YouTube every Thursday at 7pm UK time for some of the best British theatre, free to stream for a week.
The Social Distancing Festival https://www.socialdistancingfestival.com/
The Festival is a site for celebrating art from all over the world, showcasing amazing talent, and coming together as a community. Covers Theatre, Dance, Music. Live streams and online exhibitions.
Royal Opera House
https://www.roh.org.uk/ A schedule of free broadcasts and live content from The Royal Opera and The Royal Ballet that audiences can access on demand and for free via the ROH’s Facebook and YouTube channels:
Sadler’s Wells Digital Stage
Sadler’s Wells presents programme of full-length dance performances and workshops online, to keep you entertained and connected through dance, wherever you are in the world while their live stages are dark. Check the Sadler’s Wells Facebook page for the weekly series of Sadler’s Wells Facebook Premieres.
Metropolitan Opera
Music fans can get their opera fix every evening at 730pm when performances will be be streamed at the Metrololitan Opera home page. Performances will be available for 20 hours once posted, free of charge
Visit a gallery
Whether it’s a virtual visit or a Curator’s corner, there are plenty of ways to keep exploring Art Galleries and Museums from home
V & A
From ancient Chinese ceramics to Alexander McQueen evening dresses, take an journey through 5,000 years of human creativity with the online collections from the V & A
Tate Britain
https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain
View the online displays at Tate Britain
Tate Modern
https://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern
View the online displays at Tate Modern
National Portrait Gallery
https://www.npg.org.uk/visit/360-gallery-views/
Immerse yourself online using your computer, laptop or mobile and explore a selection of rooms at the National Portrait Gallery, London.
National Gallery
https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/virtual-tours
Take a virtual tour of the National Gallery
Google Arts & Culture
https://artsandculture.google.com/explore
The Google Arts & Culture site has been compiling virtual tours of museums around the world for some time and. With Google Arts & Culture, you can tour over 500 art institutions worldwide, such as the Guggenheim, London’s National Gallery, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum, and many others.
The site also uses technology from Google Street View to allow users to explore some of world’s most iconic cultural landmarks.
UK Government Response
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Current government guidance, including travel information, information for businesses and educational settings
Also includes information about financial help for small businesses, statutory sick pay for the self-employed, and business interruption loans and Self Employed Income Support Scheme.
UK Government Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK and protecting older people and vulnerable adults https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults
UK Government Stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection
Health/NHS
NHS Coronavirus Covid-19 information
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ NHS latest information and advice about how coronavirus is spread and how to avoid catching or spreading germs.
If you have symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature or a new, continuous cough), use the NHS 111 coronavirus service online. Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ NHS information about how coronavirus is spread and how to avoid catching or spreading germs.
BBC
BBC updates and longer features
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/coronavirus
Coronavirus UK map: How many confirmed cases are there in your area?
Online Mental Health Resources
Mind: Coronavirus and your Wellbeing https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/ Excellent mental health support for dealing with Coronavirus and self-isolation.
That Discomfort You’re Feeling Is Grief https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief Grief expert David Kessler shares his thoughts on why it’s important to acknowledge the grief you may be feeling, how to manage it, and find meaning in it.
Headspace https://www.headspace.com/covid-19
Popular mental health app, Headspace, are offering some free services including meditations you can listen to anytime.
AGE UK
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/
Helpful advice about supporting older people
Tutti Space https://www.tutti.space/free-resources A list of free resources for freelancers struggling in the UK because of COVID-19 and its widespread affects. Useful information on transitioning work online, live streaming and temporary work.
Independent Arts Projects http://www.independentartsprojects.com/covid-19-impact-on-arts-workers/ COVID-19 Impact on Arts Workers. Signposting benefits, statements, support for arts workers following the COVID-19 outbreak.
United In Isolation https://www.unitedinisolation.com/ Resources directory: An information hub for creatives during COVID-19 crisis, 2020
UK Covid 19 Freelance Artist Resource https://ukcovid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/ Useful website that pulls together information from across the country and internationally