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Sector Support

Below are some of the main cultural sector national bodies, associations and support agencies you can reach out for support, advice, networking opportunities and best practice. Many have dedicated advice on the Covid-19 situation.

Artsadmin

A producing and presenting organisation for contemporary artists working in theatre, dance, live art, visual arts and mixed media.

Arts Marketing Association

Helping people who work in arts and culture reach more audiences providing training, networking and resources.

A-N The Artists Information Company

The largest artists' membership organisation in the UK supporting artists and those who work with them, acting on behalf of the membership and the visual arts sector to improve artists' livelihoods.

Arts Council England

Champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences to enrich people's lives, supporting a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries.

Arts & Heritage CIC

Arts & Heritage is an agency that supports heritage organisations and museums.

Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy

Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy's mission is to strengthen cultural organisations' resilience and sustainability by transforming their fundraising knowledge, skills and levels of success.

Arts Minds

Resources and support for performers and creative practitioners experiencing emotional stress and mental health challenges.

Artquest

Artquest work in partnership with the wider arts sector to deliver programmes that support the sustainability of visual artists.

Artswork

Artswork empowers children and young people through arts and culture to find their voice, become skilled leaders and achieve their aspirations.

Association for Cultural Enterprises

Equipping people with the skills to maximise commercial income in the arts & heritage world, through digital events and training, resources, networking, study days and masterclasses.

Association of Independent Music

Promoting and supporting the independent music sector providing a range of services, commercial opportunities and practical help to members, enabling them to innovate, grow and break into new markets.

The Audience Agency

Enabling cultural organisations to gain a deeper understanding of current and potential audiences, building audiences, evaluating and strengthening skills.

BECTU

The union for creative ambition representing over 40,000 staff, contract and freelance workers in the media and entertainment industries.

Brass Bands England

Brass Bands England offer a workshop programme covering a wider variety of subjects including safeguarding, governance and player development.

British Council Arts

Developing stronger creative sectors around the world that are better connected with the UK.

Collections Trust

As well as the one-to-one digital consultancies for senior museum people, they offer NPO museums free resources on many aspects of collections management (via their website) and free training (via the outreach programme they run in partnership with the museum development network).

Crafts Council

National development agency for contemporary craft in the UK.

Creative & Cultural Skills

Supporting the UK cultural sector by shaping skills, education and employment best practice.

Culture 24

Culture24 can help you understand how to best leverage and exploit the potential of digital technologies.

Culture, Health and Wellbeing Alliance

National organisation representing everyone who believes that cultural engagement can transform our health and wellbeing.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport

Government department with responsibility for culture and sport in England, the building of a Digital Economy, and some aspects of the media throughout the UK, such as broadcasting and internet.

Disability Arts

An organisation led by disabled people, set up to advance disability arts and culture and support disabled artists.

East Street Arts

East Street Arts have 25 years of experience leading in innovation and enterprise in Studio and workspace development.

Engage

Engage is the lead organisation for gallery education in the UK.

Heritage Network Trust

Drawing together and supporting the work of local heritage groups, whether constituted as building preservation trusts, community trusts or social enterprises.

Historic England

Protecting the historic environment by preserving and listing historic buildings, scheduling ancient monuments, registering historic Parks and Gardens and by advising central and local government.

National Lottery Heritage Fund

Distributing National Lottery grants, providing leadership and support across the heritage sector, and advocating for the value of heritage.

Independent Street Art Network

ISAN supports individuals and companies in Outdoor Arts and advocates across cultural, governmental, public funding and private funding arenas.

Incorporated Society of Musicians

The UK's professional body for musicians dedicated to promoting the importance of music and protecting the rights of those working in the music profession.

Live Art Development Agency UK

Supporting contemporary culture's most radical artists, practices and ideas.

Live Art UK

A national network, supporting and developing the Live Art infrastructure for the benefit of artists, presenters and audiences.

Making Music

Lobbying on behalf of the amateur music making community, and encouraging participation in music as a means to enhance personal and community well-being.

MeWe360

MeWe can help CEOs strengthen their organisation's resilience and sustainability.

Music For All

Music for All is committed to promoting and supporting the life changing benefits of music making.

Music Minds Matter

Emotional support, advice and information for anyone in the music business.

Museums Association

Developing and growing a vibrant network of museums, campaigning and advocating and inspiring and developing the workforce.

Musicians Union

Representing musicians across the music industry, negotiating on their behalf; and providing advice, services and assistance tailored to each individuals.

National Association of Youth Theatres

Representing and promoting the youth theatre sector whilst also offering services of support, training and networking, participation and providing platforms to showcase best practice.

National Heritage Training Group

Co-ordinating the development and delivery of traditional building crafts training and qualifications in the heritage sector.

One Dance UK

One Dance UK provide network and support services to promote dance and drive developments in the sector.

Redeye

Redeye, the Photography Network, can advise on commissioning and using photography, including copyright and licensing.

Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain

Providing financial assistance, advice and guidance to professional musicians.

ScreenSkills

ScreenSkills' Board and Advisory Councils comprise senior industry leaders from across the screen sector.

Society of Authors

The UK trade union for writers, illustrators and literary translators, at all stages of their careers.

The Heritage Alliance

Briefs opinion-formers in the Westminster government and beyond on the value of heritage and the contribution that independent heritage organisations make to contemporary society.

UK Music

Promoting the interests of record labels and music publishers (major and independent), songwriters, composers, lyricists, musicians, managers, producers, promoters, venues and collection societies.

Unlimited

Supporting ambitious, creative projects by outstanding disabled artists and companies, and changing perceptions of disabled people by commissioning disabled artists.

Unsigned

Advice for musicians and music professionals.

VocalEyes

VocalEyes aim to bring the voice of blind and partially sighted people to the national conversation around arts and culture.

Voluntary Arts Creative Network

Supporting and promoting creative participation for everyone offering advice, guidance and briefings.

Youth Music

Campaigning to advocate for young people who are missing out on music-making, investing where it's needed most, and driving change in the music industries and education

Youth Music Network

An online community run by Youth Music for everyone whose work involves making music with children and young people.

 

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