Launchgrad News, Events & Opps w/c 15th June 2020
June 15, 2020
LONELINESS AWARENESS WEEK
This week is Loneliness awareness week (LAW). Launched by The Marmalade Trust, LAW was started four years ago to support awareness of loneliness and to get people to talk openly about loneliness.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of face-to-face events we’re hosting a virtual campaign called ‘One Less Lonely Voice’. We are taking the ‘one’ out of loneliness, to signify one less lonely voice.
Our aim is to empower everyone to understand loneliness one conversation at a time. By building on our understanding, we can help ourselves and others to manage feelings of loneliness.
You can join the conversation! #LetsTalkLoneliness and download a range of resources from the website.
BBC CHILDREN IN NEED – COVID-19 NEXT STEPS GRANT (UK)
The Next Steps programme is open for applications. To find out more information and who is eligible visit their website.
The Next Steps programme is our response programme designed to deliver support for children and young people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible organisations will be able to apply for between £5,000 and £80,000 for work commencing in September 2020. These grants can last up to 18 months. It is designed for established organisations who are already delivering work in their communities and further afield.
SPORT ENGLAND IS SEEKING TO SUPPORT INNOVATIVE PROJECTS (ENGLAND)
This open call is aiming to support innovative solutions that respond to current challenges.
We’re looking for solutions from individuals and organisations specifically developed to support women, people on low incomes, people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, disabled people or people living with long-term health conditions.
The closing date for applications is the 24th June 2020.
INTERESTED IN SELLING YOUR WORK ONLINE?
Don’t forget about the Affordable Art Fair website, which is already well-established and continuing to operate at pace during lockdowns. To apply to sell your work visit their website.
PARTICIPATORY ARTS IN AN AGE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING
All the organisations we spoke to are continuing to run their creative workshops for their existing communities and participants using digital/online methods – but also trying to find ways to include those for whom this is harder.
The Baring Foundation
If you’re involved in participatory arts work or socially engaged practice, the Baring Foundation have published an article (including case studies) around how organisations involved in these areas are responding to social distancing.
The Case studies also show how practitioners and arts organisations are responding to the digital divide, and there’s an open call for further case studies if you have practice you’d like to share.
SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES
If you run your own business in Herefordshire, Hereford County Council have a comprehensive page of how to get support both in reopening post-COVID and financial assistance.
GRAIN ONLINE TALK
It’s worth looking at Grain’s interesting programme of online talks through the Summer. The next one scheduled is Jonny Briggs on the 2nd July.
BORED? ART GALLERIES TO VISIT FROM HOME
Even as some parts of the economy re-open, Art Galleries and Museums remain closed. However, we can visit them virtually. This article from CreativeBloq puts together links to some of the best.
THE FORD COLLECTIVE
The Ford Collective are a group of 50 + artists and arts workers from across Herefordshire who initially came together to support each other through the Covid-19 Pandemic. Through open dialogue, weekly Zoom gatherings, research and creative sharing it became very clear to them that Herefordshire needs a collaborative sector approach to ensure the visibility, viability and recovery of the Cultural Sector in Herefordshire in the short,
medium and long term. For more details of The Ford Collective and how to join, check out their facebook page and their open letter posted here on Launchgrad.
We will soon be featuring the work of The Ford Collective in more detail here on HCALaunchgrad.