Culture Durham Partnership
newsletter
Thursday 1 October 2020
___________________________
|
|
|
October and an everchanging landscape
Dear Friends,
We hope you have had a good summer. So much has happened since our last update and, regrettably, we are now facing more challenges with cases of Covid on the rise again. The changing guidance and restrictions on movement across our region is making these challenging times even more difficult and cultural organisations continue to be hit harder than many other sectors. The creativity of our sector, no doubt, helps us to be resilient in the face of crisis, and collaboration makes us stronger, but times are testing and without additional support to retain jobs as a minimum, we will see casualties.
At Culture Durham we are putting together a programme of training and networking events for practitioners and organisations in the sector. Our first step is to carry out some research to find out what you would value and we will be doing that in a range of ways. Some people have already come forward with suggestions, but it would be great if you could get in touch with Jane Hedges, the partnership’s coordinator with your ideas.
Your feedback and input are vital so that we can organise the training and networking that you want to participate in and that will best support the sector. Please don’t think that someone else will think of your idea or that it’s not worth taking the time to get in touch with us – we genuinely want to hear all your suggestions, so please do get in touch with Jane.
Please stay well and safe – and watch this space for new developments.
Very best wishes,
Tony Harrington
Culture Durham Partnership Interim Chair
|
|
Free resources from NCVO
A reminder that the NCVO have made their previously members-only resources page, KnowHow, free to access for all. KnowHow is packed with tools, resources and guides for all your organisational needs during this difficult time. From advice on risk management to campaign strategy guidance to ‘fundraising in tough times’, NCVO’s vast knowledge bank is absolutely worth a browse. With 481 ‘how-to’ topics covered in their searchable database, you have a good chance of finding what you’re looking for.
Click here to access the NCVO’s KnowHow resource.
|
|
| Free design tool for charities and not-for-profits |
If you’re a charity or a not-for-profit you can access Canva’s premium design tool free of charge. A favourite for creating great looking and impactful media content and designs, Canva is offering its premium service free to charities and not-for-profits. The premium version of Canva can boost your organisation’s message further with their easy-to-use graphic design tools and variety of templates. The platform is especially useful for creating high-impact social media graphics and marketing materials.
Find out more about free Canva access by clicking here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Remote working tips and advice
LinkedIn has recently made one of their professional development learning paths available free of charge – Remote Working: Setting Yourself and Your Team Up for Success. Usually a paid-for service, the mini-course walks you through the various aspects of keeping a team cohesive and operating consistently whilst working remotely. Broken down into separate, easily digestible videos, it offers advice and tips on ‘Time Management’ to ‘Leading Virtual Teams’ and much more. Whether you’re new to remote work or not - and whether you’re leading a team or part of a team involving distributed team members – this set of virtual training will help you find out how to be productive and stay connected when working from home or other remote environments.
Click here to access the LinkedIn remote working course.
|
|
Heritage for inclusive growth
Heritage for Inclusive Growth, published by the RSA in partnership with the British Council, explores a systemic approach that brings together heritage, economic development and wider range of inclusive outcomes. In the context of post-pandemic recovery, and global calls to re-think historical narratives, the report considers a new approach to building more inclusive local economies through heritage.
Drawing on a range of case of studies, the report recommends a shift in focus from built assets, such as landmarks, attractions, buildings and museums to greater investment in wider cultural and ‘intangible’ forms of heritage, such as community groups, and investments in place and belonging.
Click here to access the report.
|
|
Digital Audience Survey
Initial findings from The Audience Agency's Digital Audience Survey suggest that a whole class of digital only audiences has emerged since lockdown and that the culture they consume can differ significantly from their non-virtual tastes. 38% of respondents to the survey said they had only engaged with an UK arts, culture and heritage organisations digitally, having never visited in person. 63% had discovered new forms of arts and culture online and 39% said the types of arts and cultural content they are viewing online is different from what they would normally see in person.
Read a summary of the data insights here.
|
|
Home Alone at Durham Town Hall - a project by Sharon Bailey
30 September to 31 October 2020
Wednesday to Saturday 10-3pm
This exhibition and audio piece by artist Sharon Bailey highlights the real life experiences of older people living in the northeast region who are stuck at home for long periods of time, alone.
In the living room you can hear excerpts from her diaries, read by the artist, and short sections of recordings made during her visits to older people. Nothing is made up and all the words come straight from them. The pictures you can see on the walls were taken in the older people’s homes and the living room has pictures and objects lent to Sharon by those she visited.
|
|
Funding opportunities of interest
Potential funding opportunities of interest and accessible to organisations within the cultural sector are listed below with brief details and links for more information.
Artfund grants
Respond and reimagine grants provide funding from £10,000 to £50,000 to help UK museums, galleries and cultural organisations respond to immediate challenges connected to the Covid-19 crisis, and offer support to adapt and reimagine ways of working for the longer-term future. Eligibility is limited to charitable bodies whose primary purpose relates to objects and works of art. The deadline for applications is 12 October 2020.
Click here to find out more about Artfund grants.
National Lottery Community Fund - Leaders with lived experience 2020
This fund supports lived experience leadership of organisations set up or run by people with first-hand experience of a social issue, who are trying to create positive change for communities and people who share those experiences. It aims to shape how communities move towards recovery and renewal after the impact of Covid-19. Grants of between £20,000 and £50,000 are available covering periods up to two years. Application deadline is 13 October 2020.
Click here for more information on Leaders with lived experience funding.
North East LEP VCSE Capital Grant programme
This grant programme is for voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations to help the sector contribute to a green economic recovery and to support young people. Short-term projects, i.e. by 31 March 2022, that engage local communities, in particular, engage and support young people aged 16-24, who have been disproportionately and adversely impacted by the pandemic are welcomed. Applications should be between £50,000 and £150,000, for either a ‘stand-alone’ project or a phase of work that forms part of a wider or longer-term capital investment scheme. Application deadline is 16 October 2020.
Click here for more information on the North East LEP VCSE Capital Grant programme.
Community Led Local Development (CLLD) Funding
Community- Led Local Development delivers economic outcomes in the most deprived areas. The programme aims to increase employment and skills, social enterprise, and social inclusion in order to support social regeneration within deprived areas. Open to voluntary and community organisations; micro, small and medium sized businesses; community interest companies’ registered charities; companies limited by guarantee, companies limited by shares; parish or town councils; local authorities; higher and further education providers.
Click here for more on South Durham Community Led Local Development (CLLD) funding.
Click here for more on North Durham Community Led Local Development (CLLD) funding.
The Fore - RAFT Transition Fund
The Fore RAFT Transition Fund is designed to support small charities and social enterprises as they adapt to the post-lockdown world. Funding will enable grantees to strengthen their organisations, plan ahead, become more sustainable and refocus on the new needs of their beneficiaries. The Fore is particularly looking to fund small organisations working with marginalised groups and led by people in the community that may have found it hard to access trust and foundation funding in the past. Unrestricted grants of up to £15,000 are on offer.
Click here to find out more about the RAFT Transition Fund.
|
|
|
|
|
