Culture Durham Partnership
news update
Friday 26 February 2021
___________________________
|
|
|
Some light, but the tunnel is still long
Dear Friends,
As ever, if we are fortunate to be still working, we are continuing to do so largely remotely due to the ongoing Covid pandemic restrictions. We can only hope that the implementation of the nationwide vaccination programme is successful so that we can start thinking about a greater return to some form of normality in the months ahead.
This week’s government roadmap out of lockdown does give us hope but we recognise that it’s still early days – really there are still lots of ‘ifs and buts’ along the way. The mood music coming from the government seems to indicate that they are determined that the current lockdown is the last and that they are looking to carefully support a “cautious and prudent” way out of lockdown so that the economy and society can get back on its feet in a sustainable way. The roadmap indicates that, not before 12 April public buildings including libraries and community centres, outdoor hospitality and drive-in cinemas and drive-in performances will reopen. Again, not before 17 May, most businesses in all but the highest risk sectors will be able to reopen including indoor hospitality, remaining outdoor entertainment, such as outdoor theatres and cinemas and indoor entertainment, such as museums and cinemas will. All of this is dependent on emerging data on the progress of the virus and of course, everybody will be watching carefully what the impact is of the return to education on 8 March.
Click here for the Covid-19 Response – Spring 2021, published by government, 22 February.
Over the past uncertain 12 months, organisations in the cultural sector, like everywhere else, have had to adapt to circumstances they never expected to encounter. Looking ahead, it is clear that they will have to adapt even more and refocus their operations to cope with new challenges as the economy and the sector emerges slowly from Covid restrictions. It may well be the case that some organisations find that their operating models are no longer effective in the new normal we find ourselves in and to that end it is heartening to see that many funding organisations have refocused their priorities to assist organisations as they recover from the pandemic. Details of some of those funding bodies that have adapted their approach in this way are listed below along with other funding opportunities.
While it’s encouraging to see the refocusing of such support to benefit organisations in our sector, it’s also clear that government still has a key role to play in supporting the cultural sector, especially given the increased attention we have seen of late on people’s mental wellbeing and the crucial role that our sector plays in improving that. I hope that the chancellor’s budget on 3 March will address the need for further support for our sector, which will be so important as we emerge from the pandemic restrictions.
Looking ahead, here at Culture Durham, we will be holding online training, development and networking events for cultural and heritage practitioners through the spring and summer months, so watch this space – we are looking forward to working with you.
As usual, please do send us your views and keep your feedback coming by emailing our coordinator Jane Hedges at jane.hedges@culture.durham.gov.uk
Until next time, keep well and stay safe.
Tony
Tony Harrington
Culture Durham Partnership Interim Chair
|
|
Free tablets to improve lives of thousands of people with learning disabilities
Yesterday government announced a £2.5 million Digital Lifeline Fund to provide devices, data and digital support to people with learning disabilities who can't afford to get online.
• £2.5 million Digital Lifeline fund set up to improve lives of thousands with learning disabilities on low incomes
• 5,000 internet tablets preloaded with data and free tech support available from March
• Devices to help recipients beat loneliness by reconnecting them with friends and family
The new Digital Lifeline scheme will fund 5,000 internet tablets preloaded with data and free tech support for those facing a combination of digital exclusion: cost as a barrier to internet access and increased social isolation caused by coronavirus.
It comes as recent ONS data found three in four people (74.6 per cent) with a learning disability believe their wellbeing has been affected by the impact of coronavirus, compared with 37 per cent of non-disabled people.
Studies have shown technology can help people with learning disabilities reduce feelings of loneliness and support their mental health and wellbeing. The fund will ensure thousands facing financial hardship can enjoy the many benefits offered by technology and lead as normal a life as possible while restrictions are cautiously eased following the roadmap published by the government on Monday.
The first devices will be delivered from March and form part of a package of measures the government has taken to support disabled people during the pandemic.
Click here for more information
Introducing Creativity, Culture & Capital
Nesta has launched a new platform to showcase the potential of impact investment in the creative economy to drive social and environmental change. The project Creativity, Culture & Capital launches with a series of essays that showcase the employment power of the artisan craft sector, the role of culture in placemaking, opportunities for technology to democratise access to great art, as well as how impact funds are already investing in the creative industries globally.
Click here to find out more about Creativity, Culture & Capital.
The Power of Storytelling
In this second audio case study from The Audience Agency about how to organise yourself to create content that better connects with your audiences, Richard Leeming talks strategy, specificity, and scalability with the Tate's director of digital, Hilary Knight.
Click here to hear The Audience Agency’s audio case study.
Share your stories with VisitBritain for their latest campaign
Do you have virtual content to share on seasonal fun, food and drink, learning skills or other experiences? Share your stories to help visitors to #EscapeTheEveryday at home and keep UK at the front of people’s minds during lockdown and in their plans for when travel restrictions are lifted.
Click here to find out more.
Impacts of Covid-19 on the cultural sector
The Creative Industries Federation, the membership body for the UK’s creative sector, warned of “crippling inequalities across the country” as new statistics paint a picture of a sector that needs further support, as it seeks to find new ways to adapt and monetise creative work.
The Federation is calling on government for urgent interventions in this year’s Spring Budget, including the expansion of Creative Industries Tax Reliefs, a Culture Innovation Programme, a government-backed insurance scheme for live events and an extension of income support measures, including for those who continue to fall through the gaps of support schemes, to help mitigate the long-term effects of the pandemic on communities up and down the country. In addition to the Spring Budget demands, the Federation continues to call on government to seek urgent renegotiation with the EU to remove barriers to touring and delivering creative services across Europe.
The Federation survey of more than 800 creative practitioners and organisations revealed that:
• Since the start of the pandemic, 63% of respondents have seen their turnover decrease by more than half, with creative freelancers seeing the biggest drop in revenue.
• Three quarters of those working in areas dependent on live audiences have seen a drop in income of more than 50% since the pandemic began.
• Freelancers and those based outside of London have been among the hardest hit.
• Freelancers were 20% more likely than organisations to have seen a drop in income of 75% or more since the pandemic began.
• Respondents outside of London were 8% more likely to see decreases in turnover of more than 75%.
• Across all respondents, those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland were more than twice as likely to report that it would take over 12 months to return to normal income levels if the pandemic were to end tomorrow.
• Whilst half of respondents said that they had been able to deliver a small number of activities online, 80% said that digital activities had only delivered a little income (34%) or not delivered any income at all (47%).
• Outside of London, respondents were 39% more likely to be unable to deliver activities online and 28% more likely to say that new digital activities have been unable to deliver any income.
The impact of these figures shows the potentially devastating consequences for those in the creative sector who are being hit hardest, and who are at greatest risk of being left behind.
Click here for statistics on the importance of the creative industries to the UK economy
The Centre for Cultural Value is leading a national research project exploring the impacts of Covid-19 on the cultural sector across the UK and highlighting the implications for policy making. Their Covid impacts study will provide a clear national picture and identify immediate and longer-term implications for policy and practice. Delivered in collaboration with the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre and The Audience Agency, the project runs between September 2020 and November 2021. The research findings are being shared as they become available to help inform policy responses to the crisis and planning in the cultural sector.
Read a project summary and explore the first findings here.
Volunteering in culture, sports, and arts - what matters to reduce loneliness?
Whatworkswellbeing has published Participatory arts, sport, physical activity and loneliness: The role of volunteering. This qualitative review creates a map of what matters when planning, designing, and managing volunteer programmes in the arts, sports, or culture sector. Importantly, it also identifies important negative outcomes and risks in volunteering in these sectors and draws out the characteristics of ‘spaces of security and trust’ that help achieve wellbeing.
Click here to download the review.
|
|
National Lottery Grants for Heritage reopen with refocused priorities for 2021-22
In order to pivot its funding to support projects that demonstrate the value of heritage to national life and which support local economies, places and communities, the National Lottery Grants for Heritage (NLGH) has refocused its priorities for 2021-22. As a result, between April 2021 and March 2022, when making funding decisions, NLGH will prioritise heritage projects that:
• Boost the local economy.
• Encourage skills development and job creation.
• Support wellbeing.
• Create better places to live, work and visit.
• Improve the resilience of organisations working in heritage.
The NLGH inclusion outcome – a wider range of people will be involved in heritage – remains mandatory for all projects they fund. In addition, all projects must demonstrate they are environmentally responsible and are integrating environmental measures into their projects. All applicants for funding are urged to read the guidance carefully before applying.
Click here for further information.
The National Lottery Community Fund - Growing Great Ideas programme
The Growing Great Ideas programme (Total fund £25m) is part of the UK Portfolio where the National Lottery Community Fund explores new approaches, experiments with how to do things differently, and look to fund work that is more future focused. The aim of the fund is to invest in different combinations of people, communities, networks and organisations over the long term that demonstrate an ability to seed and grow alternative systems, develop, and test new ways of building a stronger civil society, and to learn and adapt as they go.
Lead organisations need to be a Registered charity; Community interest company; Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO); Community benefit society; Co-operative society & Company limited by guarantee (if it has a not-for-profit clause); Voluntary or community organisation Statutory body (including town, parish and community councils) - which can be part of the initiative but not lead it.
Grants of up to £150,000 are available. Groups, networks, or partnerships, etc can apply for grants of up to £150,000 and the minimum length for projects is two years. Funding can be available for up to ten years in some circumstances and applications can be submitted on an ongoing basis.
Click here for more information on the Growing Great Ideas programme.
The National Lottery Community Fund - Partnerships
This programme (Total fund £40m for 2021) offers a larger amount of funding (over £10,000) for organisations that work together with a shared set of goals to help their community thrive – whether that’s a community living in the same area, or people with similar interests or life experiences. With the pandemic still with us, the programme will continue to support people and communities most adversely impacted by Covid-19. The fund can support organisations and partners to continue to deliver activity, whether supporting existing users, responding to the immediate crisis or undertaking recovery activity or to change and adapt, becoming more resilient in order to respond to new and future challenges.
Click here for details of the National Lottery Community Fund Partnerships.
Nesta - The Cultural Impact Development Fund
The Cultural Impact Development Fund (Total fund £3.5m) will now include grants up to 50% of the total investment. The fund has been restructured to make it more responsive to the economic shock of Covid-19 and aims to offer more flexible financial support to organisations as they adapt. The fund, aimed at arts and culture organisations in England, has been specifically designed to offer flexible finance to arts and culture organisations working with the people and communities in greatest need.
A blended loan and grant financing or loan only package of up to £150,000 is on offer. Each investment offer will be bespoke and tailored to the circumstances of each organisation. The fund seeks to invest in organisations that aim to build sustainable business models, such as by using the investment to: - develop a new income stream, grow an existing strand of work, purchase essential equipment, refurbish a building or pre-fund a fundraising campaign. The deadline for investment application is 31 March 2023.
Click here to find out more.
The Esmée Fairbairn Foundation - New Strategy 2020-25
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the effects of climate change, the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation is launching a new strategy, which will focus on three interdependent aims - improving the natural world, tackling injustice to deliver a fairer future and creative, confident communities. The foundation supports projects throughout the UK and is for charities or initiatives with ideas working towards these aims. The foundation will be providing larger and longer-term grants of over £30,000, as well as social investments of between £100,000 and £2m to charities or initiatives. Funding can be used to cover core or project costs, including staff salaries and overheads. Collaborative approaches are actively encouraged and expressions of interest can be submitted at any time.
Click here for more information.
The Fat Beehive Foundation - Small Grants
The Fat Beehive Foundation awards small grants to support hard-to-fund digital expenditure that other funders will often not cover. Priority will be given to projects which focus on environmental protection or climate change mitigation, human rights, international development, equality and diversity, social justice / refugees / housing, education, art and culture, health and wellbeing, prisoner rehabilitation.
The foundation funds UK charities with an average income of less than £1m a year. UK charities can apply for funding of up to £2,500 to help them improve their online digital presence, which may include costs for build websites and apps, digitise services, and purchase digital products. Applications are considered on a rolling basis at quarterly trustee meetings. Closing date for the next round of applications is Wednesday, 31st March 2021 at 5pm.
Click here for further details and application information.
|
|
|
|
|
