Coronavirus support for organisations outside of the National Portfolio and individuals

We know the challenge that Coronavirus poses to the creative community. We know, because we feel it too. Along with fellow arts and culture centres in NewcastleGateshead, we have pledged to share our knowledge and skills with other organisations and individuals to help them access the support available from Arts Council England. We are also happy to offer more general support and advice if we are able.

How Dance City can help you

Each organisation has a dedicated contact and is offering 20-minute advice sessions to help guide and support organisations and individuals through the application process. As a network, we can put you in touch with the best person to help you, depending on your circumstances and artform. We will also collaborate to give ACE feedback on the process and will pass on common questions that may come up.

How to access our support 

Start by choosing the organisation you have the closest affinity to. Use the contacts below to get in touch with the dedicated contact to book your 20-minute advice slot. If, once you have outlined your circumstances, we feel that another organisation may be better placed to support you, we will make that connection.

ACE will offer individuals and organisations working in the cultural sector new financial support totalling £160 million. They have re-purposed all investment strands to offer this support. These emergency funding streams will be open to applicants soon, which is why Dance City is working with fellow arts and culture centres in NewcastleGateshead to support other organisations and individuals prepare to access these funds.
What support is ACE making available? 

Artists, creative practitioners and freelancers

£20 million of financial support will be available for individuals, so they can better sustain themselves, and their work, in the coming months. Individuals will be able to apply for grants of up to £2,500. Creative practitioners whose main work is focused on the following artforms and disciplines will be considered:

  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Dance
  • Visual Arts
  • Literature
  • Combined Arts
  • Museums practice
  • Libraries (activity that helps deliver the Universal Library Offers)

This work includes choreographers, writers, translators, producers, editors, freelance educators in the disciplines and artforms ACE support, composers, directors, designers, artists, craft makers and curators. ACE are also exploring reasonable adjustments that will ensure applicants with access requirements have an equal chance of benefiting from the fund. This would include anyone ill due to Covid-19.

There will be two rounds of this fund, and you will be able to apply to one of these rounds.

  • Round one opens for applications on 9 April 2020 and applicants will need to register on Grantium by 13 April in order to make an application before the deadline of 12pm (midday) 16 April.
  • Round two opens for applications on 16 April 2020 and applicants will need to register on Grantium by 27 April in order to make an application before the deadline of 30 April.

Organisations outside of the National Portfolio  

£50 million is being made available to organisations that are not in receipt of regular funding from ACE. Organisations who have applied to National Lottery Project Grants are welcome to apply for this support. The fund is to support organisations to get back on their feet, or to continue making work in the future that will mean they can contribute to delivering the Arts Council’s new strategy, Let’s Create. Organisations with a track record in delivering publicly funded culture will be eligible to apply for grants of up to £35,000.

There will be two rounds of this fund, but you can only apply to one of these rounds:

  • Round one opens for applications on 9 April 2020 and applicants will need to register on Grantium by 13 April in order to make an application before the deadline of 12pm (midday) 16 April.
  • Round two opens for applications on 16 April 2020 and applicants will need to register on Grantium by 27 April in order to make an application before the deadline of 30 April.