Ikigai Journal #018
14th October 2020
When I’m not producing this newsletter, I work as a location manager for films, photo shoots and all manner of creative projects. This week, I had the good fortune of an old friend contacting me about working together on a film, which is exciting because for a while it has been pretty quiet on the work front. When explaining the project and the pitch process, he told me that he had made sure there was a budget specifically for me. He knew I needed the work and that I would be a great fit for the project. He made a point of thinking beyond his skill-set by developing a project that included a crew of 12 different creative people.
This project made me realise the interconnectedness of developing creative projects. It’s not just about what you can do with funding, it’s about all of the various creative collaborators that you enable and support. As you consider this weeks selection of funding opportunities I invite you to do the same, who else would benefit from you developing and funding your passion project?
Solomon.O - Editor
Production Continuation Fund by Screen Ireland
Deadline – 31 December 2020
Funding range – Up to £500,000
Notable Awardees -
The Production Continuation Fund is to assist production companies dealing with the uncertainties caused by the current pandemic Covid 19. It is to assist and cover the costs incurred by way of a cessation in production arising out of an incident of Covid-19 and which is not covered by other insurances.
Film Completion Fund by Wahala Film Fund
Deadline – Ongoing
Funding range – £1,000
The Wahala Film Fund is providing up to £1,000 for short film completion for Queer, Transgender, Intersex People of Colour filmmakers. You will need to fill out a simple submission to apply for the Wahala Film Completion Fund.
Wahala Film Fund is a short film (max 40 mins) completion fund for filmmakers based in the UK, Europe and the Global South. Wahala’s aim is to challenge the pervasiveness of the marginalisation of Queer People of Colour within films and film industries and also empower the many talented QTIPOC filmmakers who struggle to make work, or who stop continuing to make work because fo the systemic pressures we face in actualising work which prioritises QTIPOC people in front of and behind the camera. They understand the daily labour that goes into affirming that one is a filmmaker or artist especially if one is a QTIPOC filmmaker.
SFFILM Rainin Grant by SFFILM
Deadline – 21 January 2021
Funding range – Up to $50,000
The SFFILM Rainin Grant program is the largest granting body for independent narrative feature films in the US. Grants support films that address social justice issues - the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges - in a positive and meaningful way through plot, character, theme or setting and benefit the Bay Area filmmaking community in a professional and economic capacity.
Roy W. Dean Grant by From The Heart Productions
Deadline – 31 October 2020
Funding range – Up to $23,500
Notable Awardees -
26 Seconds - Directed and produced by Kelly Galindo (Documentary)
One child every “26 Seconds” is trafficked globally, the majority ending up in the sex trade. ‘26 Seconds’ features the heartbreaking stories of women and children from vastly different cultures experiencing horrifically similar traumas. The documentary highlights the active efforts of survivors, other individuals and NGOs to rescue victims, and raise awareness to those in power to affect change, and ultimately put a stop to this horrific, worldwide industry. ‘26 Seconds’ follows children and women from each of the target countries: Thailand, Cambodia, India, Iraq, Mexico, East Africa and in our own backyards in the USA.
Anyone in the world can apply for the Roy W. Dean Grant by From The Heart Productions. They fund compelling stories about little known subjects, historical films, and films that touch the hearts. They like films that expose, and bring, important information to light; as well as films about little known people when there is a good story. They are story-tellers, and that is the main criteria for entering and winning their grants; stories that can change, heal, and enrich everyone's lives.
Anyone with a unique film project that contributes to society can apply. Student filmmakers, independent producers, documentarians, or independent production companies are all welcome. You can live anywhere in the world and enter any of their grants, but you may not be able to use all the benefits of the specific grant you have won unless you are filming in the US.
The Open Mic UK Music Competition
Deadline – January 2021
Funding range – £5,000
Notable Awardees -
Natalie Lindi (2019 Grand Winner)
The 22 year-old singer-songwriter was named the winner in 2019 after impressing judges at the final with a performance of her original song, ‘Give It Time’. Natalie’s prize includes backing to produce her album, a video, £1,000 Spotify and radio promotion campaign from Music Gateway and a comprehensive consultation and development package.
Open Mic UK is a national singing competition which attracts over 10,000 entries every year. Singers from across the UK are invited to perform for their music industry judges including representatives from major record labels. All genres and styles of music are accepted, and you can enter as a solo act, duo or group. Their aim is to promote artist development, originality and songwriting, so whatever you choose to perform, make sure you make it your own.
Financial Assistance Grant by The Royal Society of Musicians of Great Britain
Deadline – Ongoing Basis
Funding range – Not Stated
Since 1738, The Royal Society of Musicians has been working continuously to support those in need. The Society recognises the precarious nature of the freeland musician who rarely enjoys the benefits of sickness schemes and pensions and for whom, a few weeks out of work due to accident or illness, could have serious consequences both for the musician and their family
Youth Arts Fund by Creative Scotland
Deadline – 12 November 2020
Funding range – £5,000 - £30,000
Veronica Rose (Arts and Creatives Bridging Bursary - £2,500)
Veronica Rose is a traditional and contemporary independent kiltmaker in Edinburgh. Specialising in repairs, alterations, remakes, kilts and invisible mending.
The overall £3m Youth Arts Fund has largely been provided to enhance the existing Youth Music Initiative programme (YMI) managed by Creative Scotland. The YMI Access to Music Making fund is an established strand of the annual YMI programme creating access to high-quality music-making for children and young people ages 0-25 years. This Access Fund builds on Music Making to use the new Youth Arts Fund to support an increased range of music-making projects, as well as introducing projects which deliver across wider art form areas.
Applications can come from organisations and individuals based in Scotland or who are delivering programmes within Scotland for the benefit of the people of Scotland.
Benevolent Fund by The Royal Opera House
Deadline – Ongoing Basis
Funding range – Not Stated
The Royal Opera House Benevolent Fund provides confidential advice, emotional support and financial assistance to those past and present employees (and their dependants) of the Royal Opera House and Birmingham Royal Ballet who need help. Many have given a lifetime of service to these two institutions, and have contributed to bringing pleasure to millions. If, for whatever reason, they face hard times and find it difficult to manage, the Fund can offer support. The Fund is also able to support certain other individuals or organisations involved in opera, ballet or music.
The Fund provides both financial assistance and emotional support. Help might take the form of a monthly allowance, interest-free loan, emergency grant, or one-off grant (e.g. towards essential house maintenance or domestic equipment). Each case is assessed on its own merits and involves the applicant submitting a confidential application, together with a statement of income and expenditure.
Mini Grants by The Awesome Foundation Liverpool
Deadline – Ongoing Basis
Funding range – £500
They are the Liverpool Chapter of The Awesome Foundation. A fun way of giving no-strings-attached mini-grants to cool projects that will make the world - and Liverpool - more Awesome! Awesome Liverpool gives away mini-grants any time, any month. Applications close on the last day of the month and winners will hear from them within the first week of the month. They may contact youe earily for more information to help them with shortlisting.
Postcode Recovery Fund by Postcode Dream Trust
Deadline – Rolling Basis
Funding range – Up to £1 million
The Postcode Recovery Fund has been created to support charities to develop innovative solutions that address the many issues affecting people as society recovers from the effects of the pandemic. The Postcode Recovery Fund will offer a total award fund of £3,000,000 for charitable organisations to deliver projects within Great Britain in 2021-2023. Charities can apply for grants for a project that addresses a systemic societal issue related to the pandemic.
They are looking for impactful and original projects that can demonstrate a clear link to the effects of the pandemic across the following six funding priority areas: Educational inequalities, homelessness, domestic violence, health and wellbeing, social exclusion and isolation, and poverty.
The Portrait Project Competition by The Lucie Foundation
Deadline –4 December 2020
Funding range – Up to $1,000
Paul Caponigro (2020 Honoree: Achievement in Fine Art)
Born in Boston in 1932, Paul Caponigro is renowned as one of America’s most significant photographers. When he was thirteen he began to explore the world around him with his camera and has subsequently sustained a career spanning seven decades.
This Open Call will feature 50 photographers/images that will be displayed in an online exhibition along with a variety of prizes. The theme for this open call is the portrait project with the following categories: Self (portrait), Together (relationships/family), Candid, Black & White, and Alternative/Abstract. Anyone can apply worldwide just submit the best images you feel represent the theme The Portrait Project within the category of your choosing.
They know that many of you are seeking creative outlets during this time of isolation and want to see the compelling work you are creating. While it is not mandatory to submit images created while in quarantine, they strongly encourage you to submit what you have captured around your home environment during this time. Photographers of all backgrounds and using all formats are welcome to submit.
Solo Show / International Open Call by Boomer Gallery
Deadline – 16 November 2020
Funding range – £350
It's been 3 years since they started to do pop up exhibitions in London and almost a year since they opened the doors of their permanent gallery space in Aldgate. With support from artists and audiences from all around the globe, they have decided to make the next logical step in their ongoing ascendence in the international art scene, “Solo Shows”. Artists of any age, from any country working in any medium are asked to apply.
Boomer is a London based art gallery created by a group of British artists and art enthusiasts who aim to transcend the gap between culture and countries, highlight the best hidden gems out there and push the boundaries forward.
They are going to try and keep this as simple as we can but remember ‘Fortune Favours The Bold’ so don’t be shy in your submissions -anything is possible in the contemporary world - the boundaries are limitless!
Artist Grants by The Eaton Fund
Deadline – Ongoing Basis
Funding range – Up to £300
The Eaton Fund can provide grants to help male or female artists and art students. The Trustees have made grants to fund art materials, items of equipment and exhibition costs, such as framing.
Covid-19 Emergency Fund by Dance Professionals Fund
Deadline – Ongoing Basis
Funding range – Up to £2,500
“It is because of organisations like this that artists are unable to continue to pursue what we feel is our purpose, and to continue to do what it is we do best.”
“The grant has supported my whole family. From a very worrying, stressful and anxiety ridden few weeks we’ve been able to breathe and take stock of the situation.”
Support is given to freelance dancers across genres including ballet, contemporary, Black and Asian dance and hip hop, including those with portfolio careers, e.g. choreography, whose work would normally include employment in the subsidised dance sector. The fund is supported by the Arts Council of England.
These grants are provided to support dancers, whose career has been in publicly funded work, who face financial challenges due to loss of income from Covid-19. Artists with portfolio careers, which include for instance work as both a dancer and choreographer, will also be eligible to apply. Grants are awarded in line with what other support is available, including state benefits and other government schemes. Those receiving income from other sources can apply, so long as there is genuine need. If you have received a grant from another benevolent fund you cannot apply.
Open Call by Ork_Kota_Platform
Deadline – 20 December 2020
Funding range – N/A
Ork_Kota_Platform are seeking dancers for their SzoloDuo Dance Festival which will be held online in 2021. They are asking for a one-minute dance film. All films can be recorded by mobile phone, camera or video recorder.
The dances can be experimental, animated dance or anything, as long as your dance is focused around the top Body-Dance-Picture.
Open Call Craft Choreography 11 & 12 by Craft Choreography
Deadline – 15 October 2020
Funding range – N/A
Craft Choreography is a new underground film festival with an open call for audiovisual artists working on experimental, sensory, animated, dance short films and music videos. They are looking forward to creating a bi-monthly film festival online based on different themes, which can also be a platform with interviews to artists, reviews of their work and more.
They want to encourage feminists, LGBTIQ+, senior, young, and other underrepresented creators to submit their art.
Youth Residency for Dance by Academy Mews Dance Studio
Deadline – 31 October 2020
Funding range – N/A
If you are an artist focused on dance, theatre or music, and living in North London you are eligible to apply. Academy Mews Dance Studios, as part of the Camden and London community, is seeking to support more artists in the development and advancement of their creative journeys by creating a 2021 Artists Residency Programme.
Artists residencies will culminate in a final showing of their work in their Balcony Studio. This will be an opportunity for showcasing their work, a professional space to invite producers/agents, and hopefully find funding and future collaborators, and of course make new contacts. AMDS will also provide support with media and publicity.
I remain humbled and grateful to be part of a community of creators actively trying to build their boldest visions, always ready to solve problems and deliver urgent works of creativity. If you ever want to talk through your project or need any further assistance don't hesitate to get in touch
- Solomon O