Support during the Coronavirus outbreak
We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation closely and we know it is very challenging for everyone. Our paramount concern is the health & wellbeing of our team, artists, participants, audiences and local community. We are heartened by how kind and supportive so many of you have been and, as things continue to change daily, everyone at Activate will do all that we can to support those in our local arts and creative sector.
This page is our way of sharing resources, advice and guidance that might be most relevant. We are updating it regularly.
Work in the arts and cultural sector?
- Apply for immediate financial help through Dorset Artists Emergency Fund - applications now closed.
- Follow the latest updates from Arts Council England here.
- Take a look at the latest government advice to businesses here.
- HMRC webinars are available for advice on employment.
- The government has launched a coronavirus business support finder tool.
- Voluntary Arts have set up #CreativeNetwork, now mainly weekly sessions open to anyone involved in arts, culture and creativity.
- Outdoor Arts UK are are offering fortnightly 1-2-1 sessions via Zoom every Thurs with a member of the OutdoorArtsUK team. Sign up & find out more here.
- Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance have got a whole host of resources for arts practitioners and organisations.
- This 'lost earnings log' from producer Laura Sweeney might be useful for individuals looking to recoup costs through grant / funding applications.
- Creative Industries Federation have a dedicated page for advice and resources.
- If you’ve moved your event or art project online during this period, consider submitting it to the Social Distancing Festival or to Culture Fix.
- Check out this guide for artist's new to working online from Sonia Boue.
- a-n have a dedicated page offering advice for artists and arts organisers.
- Submit your own contribution to Northern College of Art's #WFH artwork.
- Tune in to the 101 Outdoor Arts podcast and hear reflections on the current crisis.
- SOLT and UK Theatre have lots of webinars available as part of their Theatre Means Business programme.
- Contemporary circus company Upswing are facilitating 'slow thinking' online open discussions for the circus sector.
- ArtsProfessional have made their Covid Culture resource page free to non-subscribers.
- Keep up to date with Arts Council England's blog.
- Stagetext are providing free training on how to subtitle your videos.
- OutdoorArtsUK have put together a guidance document for working outdoors.
- Sign up to be included in the OutdoorArtsUk Professionals Directory - under 'artistic', 'production' or 'producers'.
- Ready to tour or present your show in the current climate? Add it to the OutdoorArtsUK Bookable Shows Directory.
Based in Dorset?
- Apply for immediate financial help through Dorset Artists Emergency Fund - applications now closed.
- Dorset Council’s website has updates on the current situation, including information on government support for businesses.
- If you’re able to volunteer in Dorset, or require help yourself, there is information from Dorset Council.
- Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership have advice on the current situation.
- There are food and drink delivery services across the county, find out more from Dorset Food and Drink.
- If you're spending more time online, shopping or connecting with loved ones, and need a little help, Dorset Council's Digital Champions are offering phone support.
- Dorset Community Action are offering free webinars and advice on available funding.
- More funds are now available for community projects through the BH Coastal Lottery.
- Visit Dorset have created a page signposting to delivery services and online shops for local produce.
- Keep your mind and body active with Dorset's Daily Dose from Active Dorset.
- Join this free business success webinar from Dorset Growth Hub on 11 August.
- Dorset Council Community Impact Fund (Round 5) is now open for applications from charities and voluntary organisations supporting local communities.
- Sign up for the free Business Resilience programme from Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and Smith & Williamson, if your Dorset business needs support.
Looking for some relief?
- Discover how arts organisations are taking their work online and get your Culture Fix.
- Access behind the scenes tours of arts institutions across the globe via Google Arts and Culture.
- Stay connected with Fun Palaces tiny revolutions of connection.
- Check out the Social Distancing Festival.
- Submit your own artwork for Grayson Perry's new Channel 4 show - submissions now closed.
- Our friends at Artsreach have put together a digital diary of arts events taking place online.
- The Southbank Centre are keeping their blog full of cultural stories and activities.
- Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra have started a weekly programme of artist-led discussions called BSO@Home.
- Listen, read and explore thousands of poems in The Poetry Archive.
- Remember to look after your mental wellbeing with these tips from the Every Mind Matters campaign.
- Local artist Darrell Wakelam is creating an art project a day for families to enjoy, follow #ArtJumpstart on Twitter for inspiration.
- Join Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's Hugh's Musical Walks (commissioned by The Arts Development Company).
- Dorset History Centre have produced activity packs for children.
- No Fit State have created an amusing short video in homage to their show Lexicon.
- Children's theatre company Tutti Frutti share family activities on their social media channels every Tuesday.
- On Saturday mornings ArtfulScribe run Mayflower Young Writers, in partnership with the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton.
- Enjoy theatre with a rural story at its heart from Pentabus.
- Learn new skills for free with the Drillaz Circus School by SeaChange Arts.
- Catch up with productions from Motionhouse via their #TogetherInIsolation playlist.
We have moved our team to working from home, but we are still very much contactable and would like to share the advice and guidance that we receive along with moral support. We are working closely with other local arts organisations and Arts Council England South West to ensure the negative impact of coronavirus on our work and those of our peers, friends and colleagues is as minimal as possible.
Staying connected to others is very important at times like this. If you are an artist, freelancer, producer or creative based in Dorset, please do get in touch. Whether you have concerns about the impact of coronavirus on your work or just want a break from this enforced isolation, we will listen and try to find the best way through this together.
Feel free to contact us via info@activateperformingarts.org.uk or 01305 260954. Please also visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts where we will continue to share updates, information and ideas that we think might help.