Why do Artists need support right now? (7 days left!)
Help us reach £23,500 so we can support the 52 artists in Dorset who are in urgent financial need.
What does your local artist (comedian, actor, musician) need the money for?
“It would change my life to have some money at this time. I have been sofa surfing. I have had to move as my living situation was no longer safe due to the virus and other factors. The money will be used on paying for food and finding somewhere more stable to live. This fund won’t cover all of my essential costs, but would make a great start.”
“I have had to borrow money to cover rent, I have then had to borrow more money to pay for food. I have had one job since March, and this has helped me put some food on the table without borrowing money from friends. All of the money will go on essential living costs. I have around £5,000 worth of essential costs to pay off. Which includes paying back the friends I borrowed money from.”
“Pay for everyday struggles since Covid-19: bills, food, everyday bills, help fill the gap. I have been surviving on the basics: food locked up in the cupboard. It gets hard when you have to start paying the bills, tv, phone, lights. I'm hanging on a thread. If I can't pay, they turn it off.”
“I am not able to get on top of both the loan I've had to take out and my living costs. My parents and husband have both agreed to cover some of my essential living needs while I get back on my feet again, but I feel like I am firefighting to keep on top of it all”
Artwork by Katie Brookes. www.katiebrookesdesign.co.uk
How are your local artists (comedians, actors, musicians) falling through the gaps of support?
“I've struggled to find any suitable work to replace my self-employment income as I usually care for the kids in the day and work in the evenings. My partner works for the NHS and is still working so I need to be home for the children. I'm also currently on the waiting list for an MRI scan on my knee so a lot of potential work is ruled out as I'm not fit to do it”
“I'm a full-time comedian but missed out on self-employed help as only went full time in September 2018 and at the start of that tax year I was working as a postman. I fell £600 short of earning more than 50% from comedy work”
(To receive self-employed financial support from the Government, your self-employed work most be 50% or above your total earnings. You must have also earned a profit to be eligible, and quite a lot of early career freelancers make a loss in their first few years)
“I don’t qualify to claim my three years profits because there were none. I don’t pay business rates (as my home is also my workshop space) so there are no grants available. I am getting £300/month child maintenance and UC and child benefit. This combined covers the rent, but I only have £150 left over to pay for food, electric, water, council tax etc. I have three children and I am a single mum. The day we went into lockdown my income went to zero and until I am allowed people here again (to lead my pottery workshops) I literally have no income”
“I am ineligible for self-employment income support scheme by the Government because I do short term PAYE contracts in a self-employed context through TV work (an area of work that doesn’t get recognised by HMRC see #ForgottenPAYE). I have had no work income since February."
Artwork by Tolu Dada @tolu_d_design
What impact has COVID-19 had on your local artists?
“Literally £1000's and £1000's of future bookings have been cancelled between us. All our bookings have been cancelled or postponed until 2021”
"March 11th was my last gig. I’m in a tribute band who usually plays all over the country. We had gigs booked every week and now they’ve all been cancelled until further notice”
“My losses are £1200 a month. That was my income from teaching. It will be a massive loss not doing Dorset Art Weeks and other fairs and markets that I had booked.”
“I have lost £3,500 worth of work. I had weddings, parties and pub gigs in the diary plus some dates with a touring show.”
Artwork by The Wooden Spoon Press. www.woodenspoonpress.com
There are no comments on this update yet.