Wigan Council recognises that due to the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, freelance Creative Practitioners are continuing to face many challenges to their practice and livelihoods. As a Council we strongly believe in the positive benefits a rich cultural offer provides for our community’s health and wellbeing and the reliance of this offer on the vibrancy and resilience of our creative sector and those working in it.
The £35k Freelance Creative Practitioner COVID-19 Fund is the Council’s commitment towards supporting artists and freelance creative practitioners across the borough whose practise continues to be affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The funding aims to help sustain artists and freelance workers until the cultural sector is fully reopened by providing the resources to produce a new piece of digital work.
Freelance creative practitioners based in or working out of Wigan who work in the arts and are experiencing severe financial hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Grants of £500 - £1,500 to create a new piece of digital work to feature as part of the Wigan Arts Festival digital programme (30th July - 14th August).
There will be a single funding round with applications accepted from 12pm on Friday 21st May until 5pm on Friday 4th June 2021. Applicants will be informed of decisions week commencing 21st June.
The application closed on Friday 4th June 2021, 2pm.
Due to the expected volume of applications, we strongly advise you to submit your application in advance of the deadline day.
We regret that we are not able to provide advice on developing individual applications or feedback on unsuccessful applications. However, should you need any technical support or have questions about the application requirements, including access requirements, please contact us by email at TheFireWithin@wigan.gov.uk.