Updated – Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers

Funding is still available to support creative freelancers working in the arts and creative sector in Scotland who are experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the loss of income because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Immediate financial hardship is described as an inability to meet essential costs at the present time.

How much can be claimed?

The fund offers a one-off payment of between £500 and £2,000 to those who are deeply impacted and disadvantaged by the cancellation of work as a result of the pandemic.

Who is eligible?

1. Freelance professionals whose work has direct creative outcomes. This can include but is not limited to:

• visual artists
• writers or makers of poetry, prose or fiction
• playwrights
• actors or theatre-makers
• comedians
• dancers
• musicians
• craft makers or designers

You will derive a significant proportion of your income from your role in creating or producing original artistic, creative or design material.

2. Freelance professionals whose work directly supports the making and presentation of creative work, including events. This can include but is not limited to:

• theatre producers
• lighting designers
• gig promoters
• independent curators or creative producers

You will derive a significant proportion of your income from your role in supporting or producing original artistic, creative or design material and events.

All applicants must be based in Scotland and must be able to demonstrate they were working and making income as a freelance creative professional before lockdown began in March 2020.

Who is not eligible?

• individuals who have already applied to this fund
• those deriving the majority of their income from client-led work – for example in advertising, architecture, software/electronic publishing, corporate and private events and from technical areas of writing and publishing such as news journalism, educational, technical, academic and professional writing
• those working in the screen and photography sector (they were covered by the Screen Scotland Hardship Fund, now closed)
• those working in the heritage sector, including interpretation consultants, designers and tour guides
• those who cannot demonstrate a freelance professional creative practice
• those currently working in paid full-time employment
• individuals based outside Scotland
• those who are currently furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and are receiving 80% or more of their full-time salary
• self-employed individuals (or members of a partnership) who have received support under the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) equivalent to, or in excess of, the UK living wage, pro rata, since 1 April 2020
• anyone with more than £6,000 in savings
• anyone studying either full-time, or as part of a long-term, formal or accredited programme at college or university (at the time of application), including PhD students
• academics or other education professionals not in freelance positions

Please refer to the fund guidance for full details on eligibility. 

When is the fund open until?

The fund is open for applications until  1 February 2021.

Note that it has already opened and closed several times.

How long does it take?

The funds are offered on a non-competitive basis and ask for minimal information, so awards can be made as quickly as possible.

If you have already applied, either through Creative Scotland or one of the partners, you can expect to get your decision within six weeks of the date of submission.

If you applied through one of the partners of the fund, the decisions will be communicated to you by the partner – not Creative Scotland – within six weeks of the date you submitted your application.

More detailed information on eligibility and how to apply can be found on the following link:

https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/service/funding/hardship-fund-for-creative-freelancers

The information in this blog provides only an overview of Scottish Government guidance and legislation in force at the date of publication and no action should be taken without consulting the detailed Scottish Government guidance and legislation or seeking professional advice.  Therefore no responsibility for loss occasioned by any person acting or refraining from action as a result of the material contained in this blog can be accepted by the firm.

Photo by Kyle Head on Unsplash