Visual Arts Support UK 

Visual Arts Support UK 2024

Sometimes when we are in the whirlwind of creating and seeking new opportunities, taking time out to reflect on our business practice doesn't often crop into our minds, and when it does it's easily dismissed. 

You may not realise this but if you are operating within the creative sector, you have a distinct advantage over most types of business, your practical skills and and right brain thinking give you unique perspectives that can be leveraged to build an amazing brand.

The future lies in creators taking a hard nosed line on the business aspects, without sacrificing heart felt passion and talent. If you can get ahead now you will spearhead the revolution. Over the last 10 years the arts is becoming more recognised and included in the business community. With the explosion of cultural quarters in most major towns and the pandemic shining a light on how much we rely on this sector for our wellbeing, it can only get stronger.

Yes, there are still very real challenges and it's not an easy route, but it is possible to thrive. A good place to start is through collaboration and community. This weaves a very strong foundation on a collective scale and provides you as an individual creator with natural mentorship, inspiration and networking.

Consider how you can use your gifts and personality to build community, provide value and unite your tribe. This will not only build your brand but prime you for exciting collaborative relationships that can remain authentic.

For those of you who are starting out, or have ambitions to make change, this blog is a resource of organisations that you can work with to support, guide and even fund your projects.

Below is a list of regional providers that can support those who are based in the United Kingdom and operate in the visual arts, film, music and design. Feel free to share the love.

Visual Arts:

National Agencies:

Arts Council England; Arts Council Wales; Arts Council Ireland; Arts Council Scotland supports visual arts projects across the UK through various grants and funding programmes

Creative UK: Provides resources and networking opportunities for visual artists.

Visual Artists' Guild: Offers professional development, legal advice, and advocacy for visual artists.

Contemporary Visual Arts Network: CVAN England leads a collective agenda for policy change across the visual arts includes the Visual Arts Alliance

Grants Online latest funding opportunities for organisations across the UK

Regional Agencies:

To help you pinpoint hyper local support, below is a list of agencies that are near you.

North East: Northern Print,   Arts Network North East

North West: Community Arts Northwest; Gorton Visual Arts; Manchester Open; Liverpool Biennial; Culture Liverpool; Visual Arts Cheshire; Chester Visual Arts; Cheshire West and Chester; Cheshire East; Creative Lancashire; Arts Lancashire; Dot Art

Yorkshire and the Humber: Yorkshire and Humber Visual Arts Network, Yorkshire Contemporary. Art in Yorkshire; Leeds Visual Arts Network; Bradford Producing Hub; Leeds Fine Artists

Midlands: Birmingham Museums Trust, Nottingham Contemporary

South East: Jerwood Foundation, MK Gallery

South West: Arnolfini, Plymouth Arts Centre

Scotland: Scottish Contemporary Art, Edinburgh Art Festival

Wales: National Museum Wales, Wales Arts Council

Northern Ireland: Belfast Exposed, Ormeau Baths

Film:

National Agencies:

British Film Institute (BFI): Supports film production, distribution, and exhibition through various schemes and resources.

Creative England: Funds film projects and initiatives through its Film Fund.

Regional Agencies:

North East: Northern Film + Media, Film Hub North

North West: Screen Yorkshire, Manchester International Film Festival FACT Liverpool

Yorkshire and the Humber: Sheffield Doc/Fest, Film Hub Yorkshire

Midlands: Birmingham Film Festival, Film Birmingham

South East: Brighton & Hove Film Festival, Film London

South West: Encounters Film Festival, Bristol Film Festival

Scotland: Scottish Film Institute, Glasgow Film Festival

Wales: Film Cymru Wales, Cardiff International Film Festival

Northern Ireland: NI Screen, Belfast Film Festival

Music:

National Agencies:

Music Week Growth Fund: Provides loans and equity investments for UK music businesses.

PRS for Music: Collects and distributes royalties to songwriters and composers.

The Musicians' Union (MU): Represents and protects the rights of professional musicians.

Regional Agencies:

North East: Sage Gateshead, Music Glue

North West: Manchester Music Industry Development Agency, Live Nation

Yorkshire and the Humber: Leeds Music City, Sheffield Theatres

Midlands: Birmingham Music Box,

South East: Brighton & Hove Music Conference, London Music Week

South West: Bristol Music Trust, Exeter Phoenix

Scotland: Scottish Music Industry Association, Celtic Connections

Wales: Wales Music, Focus Wales

Northern Ireland: NI Music, Belfast Music City

Design:

National Agencies:

Design Council: Promotes design excellence and its impact on society.

Creative England: Supports design businesses through various programmes.

Regional Agencies:

North East: North East Design Forum, Newcastle Design Week

North West: Manchester Design Factory, Liverpool Design Festival

Yorkshire and the Humber: Sheffield Design Week, Leeds Design Festival

Midlands: Birmingham Design Week, Nottingham Design Week

South East: London Design Festival, Brighton Design Festival

South West: Bristol Design Festival, Plymouth Design Week

Scotland: Design Scotland, Edinburgh Design Festival

Wales: Design Wales, Cardiff Design Festival

Northern Ireland: Design Innovation N.I., Belfast Design Week

My support

I help you cut through all the information overwhelm to help you build your business in a manageable way. In the first instance I ask for a 40 minute consultation over Teams to see if what I offer is aligned to your needs and within your expectations. It's not a sales call. I always guarantee that you will leave the session with some additional wisdom to when you came.

Please connect here. I look forward to chatting with you.