A committee of prominent cultural leaders, artists and activists including Artistic Director and the CEO of Sadlers Wells, Alistair Spalding, Artistic Director at HighTide Suba Das, and the Executive Producer and the Executive Director of Improbable Kathryn Bilyard and Ben Monks, visual artist Ferg Cooper, Independent Editor and Producer Sara Sjölund, Creative Strategist and ACE changemaker Suzanne Alleyne, multi-disciplinary creative Shazia Bibi, and activist and artist Manuela Benini, have teamed up to launch a new artists funding platform.
ARTCRY went live yesterday (5th October 2020). The launch month will include events, artworks and talks released in support of the campaign – info on all events below, and further details of all events can be found on the Artcry website – www.artcry.co.uk
Although plans were in place to establish the initiative prior to the realities of Covid-19, the panel, realizing support for the arts is was needed now more than ever have chosen to launch their fundraising initiative now, despite the challenges of raising donations in the midst of a pandemic and a recession. The initiative aims to raise and distribute £50,000 in its first year of operations, and all artists from any discipline at any stage in their career are welcome to apply. Work must be free for audiences and presented in the public realm and be time critical.
The fund will encourage and support artists to create work responding to social and political events with fast- turnaround funding which enables fast action. ARTCTRY will fund small grants (up to £5k) with decisions on applications made within a week of applying so that artists know within seven days whether they have received funding so they can start work.
Today marks the launch of a month-long fundraising campaign including a crowdfunding appeal which can be accessed and donated to www.crowdfunder.co.uk/artcry and will run from 5 October – 31 October The fund will open to applications in November.
