Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers - Scotland

Creative Scotland Hardship Fund

*Please note that applications open midday on 10 November, you will only be able to apply from then*

What is this fund for?

This fund has been provided by Scottish Government to support freelance craft practitioners working in Scotland who are experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the loss of income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This fund offers a one-off bursary to those who are most deeply impacted and disadvantaged as a result of COVID-19.

This includes practitioners who operate using a personal service company (PSC) or ‘loan-out’ type structure, sole traders and PAYE freelancers.

How much can you apply for?

Applicants can apply for up to £2,000. You may request more than £2,000 if your request includes access costs.

Who is eligible?

• Freelance craft makers, including designer makers
• Maker educators working in craft
• Craft curators
• Craft creative producers
• Craft writers
• Musical instrument makers
• Craft studio technicians
• Craft project managers
• Craft gallerists

Who is not eligible?

Those who cannot demonstrate an ongoing career in the Scottish craft sector.

Those actively working in full-time employment.

Employees (other than employees of a personal service company) who

are furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and are receiving 80% or more of their full-time salary

Practitioners who have been able to furlough themselves as employees of their own personal service company under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and have received support equivalent to, or in excess of, the UK living wage pro rata, since 1 April 2020.

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 .

Individuals based outside Scotland

Anyone still at school, or studying either full time, or as part of a long term, formal or accredited programme at college or university (at the time of application).

Academics or other education professionals not in freelance positions, including classroom art teachers

Craft venue managers, front of house staff and other venue staff

Craft shop owners

What information do you need to give us in your request?

Along with basic information we will ask you to submit the following in support of your request:

A CV (Curriculum Vitae) or biography of your work.

A professional referee: this is someone in a senior management position within the

craft sector or someone in a recognised role within the industry that you have worked for or provided services to.

Registered company number or unique taxpayer reference (UTR), where relevant

Valid photo ID (driving licence or passport) and proof of address

We may seek additional evidence from you as part of our eligibility check.

You must be able to confirm:

That you earn 50% of your income working freelance in the craft sector as defined by the criteria of this fund (see eligibility)

Are in need of immediate financial assistance due to COVID-19

That your income has been substantially reduced due to COVID-19

Are not currently in full-time Further or Higher Education

Have less than £6,000 in savings

That your usual residence is in Scotland

That the larger part of your employment takes place in Scotland

That you are not in receipt of benefit from the government as a result of loss of earnings due to COVID-19, or if you are, that the sum total of the amount received is less that the UK living wage pro rata, since 1 April 2020.

What is the overall budget for this fund and how much can I apply for?

The total budget for this fund is £390k.

Bursaries can be requested for any sum from £500 up to £2,000.

The funding comes from the Scottish Government’s emergency

funding package for the culture sector. The Scottish Government has committed £5m through Creative Scotland for creative freelancers who are experiencing hardship due to lost income from work and / or practice in the creative sector due to COVID-19. The remainder of the funds for the wider arts and creative sector will be delivered through a range of partners operating existing hardship funds, supplemented by direct support from Creative Scotland for eligible freelancers whose roles are not supported by external funds.

If your application is eligible, we will award you the full amount requested. Given the finite nature of the fund, please be mindful of the needs of others and our desire to help as many people as we can. Please note that you may not apply to both the Crafts Council/Craft Scotland Hardship Fund and Creative Scotland and its external partners’ Hardship Funds.

How to apply

Step 1:
Register with Creative Scotland from midday, 10 November for a unique reference number to allow you to process your application. https://www.creativescotland.com/creative-freelancers

Step 2.
Complete and submit the request form through our online portal:
craftscouncil.smapply.io

What is the deadline for applications?

The funds do not have a published deadline – but will only remain open for as long as the funds are available with each of the partners. We therefore encourage applicants to apply as early as possible.

Our online application portal – which requires all applicants to register first with Creative Scotland - will enable us to record the overall volume of requests and monitor demands on the fund as applicants register.

We plan to briefly pause applications to allow for those who need additional support and time to apply. When this happens we will communicate with registered applicants and let them know when the fund will reopen.

For more information

www.creativescotland.com