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Student budget spreadsheet: how to make your loan last

It can be tricky to get a clear picture of your finances when you’re living away from home for the first time. This student budget spreadsheet will help you to make your student loan last and see where the money goes. It will help you for life…

I’ve spent the past few weeks talking to several hundred students on creative courses from locations all around the UK on the topic of how to make your loan last.

During the workshops, several students made the comment that they wish loans were paid-out in a more piecemeal fashion – a regular drip-feed on a weekly or monthly basis.

I think this is a fairly savvy point, which probably would help more students avoid the (inevitably) bad financial decisions we all make at some point during study. However, part of the point of higher-education is equipping you with the skills for life and, chief among them, critical thought and self-reflection.

In this sense, the loan is one of many, sometimes painful, learning curves that are part of that experience. It also strikes me that it’s not a bad rehearsal for life in the creative industries.

A dry run

Most creative workers are freelancers and most of us get paid in occasional lump sums, rather than the more steady incomes that would enable us to emulate a salary.

In this sense, making the three payments of a student loan last across the year, while topping it up with other forms of income (drawing on savings, part-time work, frantically selling your things etc.) is a pretty good emulation of the cash-flow peaks and troughs we encounter in creative work.

I’ve been using a student budget spreadsheet to illustrate to students how they might spread their loan out and get some clarity on their financial position throughout the year. I thought I would share it on here, too, along with a few pointers on how to use it, which is really the important bit.

Get the Creative Money student budget spreadsheet

(Opens as a Google spreadsheet)

Please note: You won’t be able to edit the master sheet on this link, so it’s important that you save a copy to your own Google account or download it for use with Excel before you try to edit it.

You’ll note there are three tabs: Spreading your loan, What have I got? and What do I need?

Step 1: Enter your annual maintenance loan

Start on the first tab (Spreading your loan) and enter your annual loan amount where indicated.

Student budget spreadsheet: your maintenance loan

When you enter this figure, the sheet does a very simple calculation to split the payment into three, indicating how much you will receive in payment each term.

It also divides your annual figure equally across either 9 or 12 months (depending on your selection in Box B7).

Choose 9 months if you expect to be relatively ‘bill-less’ over the summer period – for instance, you know you’re heading home and won’t need to supplement your income at that point.

If you’re planning on renting throughout summer, then go for 12.

The amount you have to contribute towards your living costs each month is then displayed in row 8: ‘Maintanence loan for term time (Oct-June)’.

This will prove useful later.

Step 2: Figure out what you have

Next, head to the What have I got? tab. This is where you take a snapshot of your financial position. This is best done once a month at the same time each month, e.g. the first of the month.

Student budget spreadsheet: your assets

Log anything you’re holding in your savings accounts, in cash, or other investments and things that hold some worth and could be converted to cash.

(As a rule, avoid listing your ‘stuff’, as selling your guitar etc. is usually a last resort).

Below you can list any debts you might hold, perhaps your overdraft, credit card and store credit.

Student budget spreadsheet: your debts

The sheet then deducts your assets (what you have) from your liabilities (debts/what you owe) and tells you what’s left.

This figure is known as your net worth, but is probably best thought of as ‘What have I got?’ hence the title…

Step 3: Enter your income and expenses (predict then review)

Now move to the What do I need? tab. This is where you capture the movement of your money in and out of your accounts for the month: your cash-flow.

Do not comb your statements line-by-line to do this. Use a budgeting app, which does the legwork for you and will automate the monthly totals for expense categories.

Your fixed expenses
Your Fixed Expenses won’t change much month-to-month.
Your variable expenses
Your Variable Expenses can be easily grouped and tracked using a budgeting app.

Once a month, open it up, drop the expense total from each of your main app categories into the relevant column on the ‘What do I need?’ tab and you’ll start to get a very clear picture of where your money is going (and how much of it is going there!) each month.

(You can of course use the apps themselves to compare monthly spending, but I find it’s clearer if you drop them on the sheet.)

Do the same thing with your income.

Your income

This is where that student loan calculation from Step 1 comes back in. The sheet pulls through your student loan portion for the month (calculated on the ‘Spreading your loan’ tab) and adds it at the top of the income column.

It’s not strictly ‘income’ but it can be thought of as such while you’re a student…

The sheet will tot up the categories to tell you your total expenses (Row 40: What do I need?) and then deduct your expenses from your income to show you your cashflow for the month (Row 43).

Your cashflow

If the figure is positive, you’re spending less than you’re bringing in, great!

If it’s negative (which it may well be during study) and continues to be, you’ll need to do something to either lower your expenses or raise your income, so take action!

Step 4: Tracking is the key to success

A lot of people will tell you that budgeting is the key to keeping your finances in shape as a student and beyond. But this is only true if you accept the reality of your expenses – and most people don’t.

More often than not we create a budget from numbers we’ve plucked from the sky. Our perception of these costs is often very different from the reality, which means we inevitably ‘break the budget’, tell ourselves off and then get demotivated and give up on it.

via GIPHY

Budgets should change. Don’t feel bad about it.

The secret to budgets (that is often not discussed) is this: Success with this stuff depends more on reflection than prediction. It is the tracking that makes the difference.

Budgets should change. It is not about chucking some numbers on a spreadsheet and hoping they’re right, it is accepting that it is a guide and it won’t ever be 100% right, then periodically checking and correcting your assumptions.

If you use an app to track your expenses and update the sheet once a month, you’ll have a much better sense of your real expenses. You can then use that information to make more realistic decisions about what to budget for the next month – and so on.

You don’t have to wait until the end of the month either. The apps often allow you to setup running totals.

For instance, you might set a limit of £100 a month for food shopping. Every time you check in on the app, it will tell you how far through that figure you are for the month – and you can adjust your spending accordingly.

Step 5: Repeat this once a month. Don’t spend ages on it.

via GIPHY

I always tell people not to spend a long time doing this.

It should be just a case of nipping through and dropping any totals from the 10 or so spending categories on your app into your sheet. Then the balances from the accounts on your ‘What have I got?’ tab.

If you’ve kept things tagged-up on the app throughout the month, this should take you a maximum of 10 minutes.

It doesn’t need to take a long time. In fact, it is much better if it doesn’t. You want this habit to stick, not become a chore.

Talking to yourself

Once you’ve pulled the info together, give yourself a moment to look over things on the sheet. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is there anything unexpected or surprising about the month’s spending? Why is that?
  • What was worth the money? (It made you genuinely happier, or had some considerable or lasting benefit)
  • What really wasn’t worth the money? (It was a waste, or had very short-lived benefits)
  • How does my spending compare to the previous month?
  • Is my ‘What have I got?’ number (Net worth) going up or down?

This should take you about another 10 minutes. But to be on the safe-side, let’s say the whole process should take you 30 minutes a month.

That’s just 30 minutes a month to get clarity on how much you have, where the money is going and whether you’re on a good course, or need to make some changes.

Don’t waste time agonising over decisions you’ve already made or getting forensic in your analysis of micro transactions. We’re looking at trends and overall direction here.

Spend just a little time putting these habits in place now and you’ll reap the benefits for the rest of your life.

Categories
Guides Resources

Mentoring and the creative industries: How can a mentor help you?

We talk mentoring for creative workers, with I Like Networking’s Isabel Sachs

There has been an increasing awareness around the concept of mentoring in the creative industries for the past few years. The pandemic has only supercharged this trend. I spoke to Isabel Sachs, founder of I Like Networking, about the benefits of mentoring, how to find a mentor and how to make the most of a mentorship opportunity.

For all the considerable challenges of Covid-19 facing creative workers, there has been a silver lining. The resulting technological change has simultaneously opened new doors and clearly highlighted the vast disparities in gender and racial equality that exist in all walks of life, not least the creative sector. As such, there is now a rising desire to share knowledge/contacts, actively address inequality and generally extend a helping hand to those who are trying to progress in the creative industries.

I spoke to Isabel Sachs, who has just launched I Like Networking’s second annual mentorship scheme for women and non-binary professionals entering or working in the creative industries. It’s completely free to take part, so check out the stellar line-up of mentors and, if you’re interested, you can apply until 19 April, 2021.

I took the opportunity to ask Isabel a few questions about the scheme and the benefits of mentoring for creative workers. Here’s what she had to say…

What’s your background in the creative industries and what motivated you to start I Like Networking?

“I first started in the creative industries serving coffee at film sets when I was around seventeen years old, so it’s been a while! I didn’t know exactly where I would fit in so for a few years I experimented quite a bit, working at an art gallery, fashion shows and more. I got really into the film industry world until a chance encounter with two artists and directors led me to open my own company in Brazil. It was a great experience and I’ve learned so much, so fast.

“I sold it in 2015 after having moved to London to explore other options. While I was here I did a masters in arts management at City University and worked at various organisations such as V&A and East London Dance. I was on a new freelance project in music when Covid hit in April 2020 and, well, that didn’t go ahead!”


In need of financial support amid the Covid-19 pandemic? We’ve rounded-up some options here: Coronavirus support: resources for the creative industries


“Having that support and soundboard was essential, not just to my career development but for my mental health”

Isabel Sachs
Please tell me a bit about the ILN mentoring scheme. Who is it for and how does it work?

“The mentoring scheme is for women and non-binary people aged 18+ who work or want to work in the creative industries. It’s international and is intended for anyone who needs support getting ‘unstuck’ or perhaps pivoting. Mentees are paired with their mentors for four sessions over 3-4 months, throughout which they will work on goal-setting, tools and will also be introduced to other industry connections through their mentors. In 2021 we have over 50 mentors involved, working in Marketing, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts, Social Impact, Fashion and more.”

Isabel Sachs (founder of I Like Networking mentoring scheme)
Isabel Sachs, founder of I Like Networking
Have you had the benefit of mentors? How did they help you?

“I never had a formal mentor but I was very lucky to have tons of informal mentors throughout my life. Having been an entrepreneur and a freelancer for most of my career, having that support and soundboard was essential, not just to my career development but for my mental health.”

What difference can a mentor make to your career? Do you have any good examples in this respect?

“A mentor can do wonders for anyone who is willing to put in the work. They can help you understand where your strengths lie, where you might be sabotaging yourself and especially regain confidence. We have a podcast episode coming out 26 March with former mentees from our programme, which are great examples of all of that!”

“Mentors can help you price yourself correctly and even negotiate”

Isabel Sachs

How to find a mentor

How can someone find or identify a potential mentor?

“A mentoring relationship is one of trust. So, I’d start by assessing why you want a mentor now and what are the key issues you’re wanting to work on before reaching out to someone. It can be a peer that seems to have strengths in that area, or someone whose career trajectory you truly admire. Ideally, you’d start building a rapport and start to have conversations with someone before asking for a formal mentoring relationship but you can also have mentors (like I did) that you connect with ad-hoc throughout your life. We have a whole session on finding mentors [below]!”

What tips do you have for readers who are thinking about approaching a mentor?

“Know what you need from them and be clear on how you think they can support you and how much support would you need (is it a one-off conversation? Four sessions across six months?) Be clear on your goals and why you think they would be the best person for this.”

Click here for I Like Networking's mentoring scheme
If you like the sound of I Like Networking’s mentorship scheme, apply before 19 April, 2021.
What should we consider when establishing a mentor/mentee relationship?

“It is important to understand that a mentor sort of keeps you company while you go through your career development or career hurdles. They won’t do the work for you, so you must be ready to do a lot of work yourself, listen to prompts and, most importantly, be open to feedback. But I’d say respect and trust are they elements to consider”

The not-so-secret mission of Creative Money is to help people figure out how to sustain themselves in the creative industries. Is it OK to discuss finances or how to navigate the financial realities around creative work?

“100% – I think this is vital as well and I grew up with a lot of privilege in that aspect because my parents were adamant with teaching us financial education from an early age. When I opened my own company, my father used to say he was my back-office: he taught me a lot about cash flows, taxes and pension. I talked to colleagues and informal mentors about this a lot as well. Mentors can support you with finding a business model that works for you, help you price yourself correctly and even negotiate.”

“Individuals who work with great mentors see more promotions, increased confidence and better personal and professional outcomes”

Isabel Sachs
It feels like the idea of mentoring has really caught on in the UK in the last few years – becoming more accepted by both potential mentors and mentees. Why do you think that is?

“I am not so sure! But I’d say since the pandemic I definitely saw a desire to be proactive and support one another and mentoring is a fantastic way to do that because it really is a relationship which is mutually beneficial and accessible to almost anyone. The results speak for themselves – individuals who work with great mentors see more promotions, increased confidence and better personal and professional outcomes. What our programme adds to that is the networking aspect which is KEY in the creative industries which still often operate on the basis of who you know, so we are trying to smash some of those barriers that way.”

What final words do you have for anyone who is nervous or hesitant about approaching someone/joining a scheme?

“Feel the fear and do it anyway. If you feel like you’re stuck and you’ve tried everything else, mentoring is a free tool and you receive what you put into it. You can also start by reaching out to a trusted friend and colleague with small things such as reviewing your CV and cover letter or doing a mock interview with you. You will receive feedback, probably see the value in it and be ready for more! Also, as mentioned, take a look at our podcast and other resources as they will help you demystify some of that.”

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Guides Principles Resources

Can you buy happiness? 5 principles for happier spending

Trying to buy happiness itself is unlikely to work, but changing the way you spend and consume can help you to get more of it

No one gets into creative work for the money. However, as I started to discuss last week in my How to spend money piece, the resulting limitations on our funds mean we need to be smarter-than-average when it comes to our spending. This means it needs to make us as happy as possible for as long as possible. So how can you buy happiness?

Elizabeth Dunn and Michael Norton are two US academics who spent years researching the impact of different spending approaches on people’s happiness levels. Dunn, a professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and Norton a marketing professor at Harvard Business School, eventually recorded their ideas in a helpful book entitled ‘Happy Money’.

Happy Money: The New Science Of Smarter Spending book cover

I stumbled across ‘Happy Money’ when I was working in my local library and I’ve since found it really useful in helping me to reframe spending decisions.

‘Happy Money’ resists the temptation to get preachy, which means it does not trigger my internal ‘f***-off!’ sensor

It’s an impressive book because, although there’s a substantial amount of research behind their recommendations, it reads in a very straight forward, useful fashion. It also resists the temptation to get preachy or dogmatic, which means it does not trigger my internal ‘f***-off!’ sensor.

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Inside, they identify five key principles of happy money. You can learn more about them below, but the book goes into much more detail and has loads of compelling evidence and useful examples to back it all up. As such, I really recommend you consider reading ‘Happy Money’. You can buy it over on Amazon or, even better, drop by your local library (when possible).

  1. Buy experiences
  2. Make it a treat
  3. Buy time
  4. Pay now, consume later
  5. Invest in others

1) Buy experiences

photo of assorted-color air balloon lot in mid air during daytime
Photo by Mar Cerdeira on Unsplash

Buying experiences instead of stuff usually makes us happier and in a more lasting way.

Cleverly-marketed shiny things are designed to persuade you to buy a lifestyle by purchasing a product. We want that positive change – it’s part of process called ‘self-actualisation’ (an awful term for the process of trying to become the person we want to be) – and advertisers are very good at telling us that buying their stuff will get us there.

Look to buy experiences that match Dunn and Norton’s criteria. You’ll be happier for it

The problem is that it usually does not. Just look at the scores of high-earners who find the big house and the statement car to be somewhat hollow victories, once acquired.

A sense of self

Instead, Dunn and Norton cite a Cornell study that shows how things like travel, theatre trips, gallery visits and dinner with friends come to define their subject’s sense of self much more than their purchases.

Interestingly, when given the option to go back in time and change one of these purchases for an alternative, those who had bought an experience were much more likely to stick with their initial decision.

This makes sense to me. In my role as a music journalist, I’ve often heard musicians say as much: “There’s nothing I’d change, it all made me who I am…” etc. Indeed, it happens so often that I’ve written it off as a crap question.

Notably, Dunn and Norton say experience-based spending proves even more satisfying when it…

  • brings you into contact with other people
  • results in good stories
  • is linked to the ideas you have about who you want to be
  • is in some way unique

Resist the urge to buy the shiny thing whenever you can and instead look to buy experiences that match Dunn and Norton’s criteria. You’ll be happier for it.

2) Make it a treat

white teacup near bread
Photo by Linda Söndergaard on Unsplash

Being conscious of what you consume and spacing-out (or varying) the good stuff allows you to gain more enjoyment from it.

Have you ever been round the likes of Borough Market in London (or any farmers market/purveyor of posh produce) where they divvy out free samples?

You try a sliver of cheese and, suddenly conscious of the flavour, it tastes phenomenal. Four hours later, on the sofa, you can be ladling fat wedges of barrel-aged cheddar into your gob in front of Netflix and feel only a fraction of the joy. The more you consume, the less benefit you experience.

Diminishing returns

This is the psychological effect to look out for and that Dunn and Norton say justifies their ‘make it a treat’ approach. That aforementioned owner of the big house and statement car will find it stops making them happy because they soon get used to it. It’s the same with most things in our lives – and even our lives themselves.

Identify the good things and savour them by limiting consumption and being more conscious of them

A bit of mindfulness helps here, the authors say we should identify the good things and savour them by limiting our consumption and being more conscious about enjoying them.

So, if fancy cars really matter to our hypothetical ‘high-earner’, they might be happier buying something dependable and efficient, then using the savings for regular track days, or just renting a posh car once in a while.

At the other end of the expense scale, there’s a lot of happiness to be gained in your daily life, whether it’s being a tourist in our your own city, savouring your food (away from the TV) or making the most of those first few drinks.

3) Buy time

person holding yellow round analog clock
Photo by Morgan Housel on Unsplash

I think this is probably the most important lesson for creative workers to absorb. If one thing from this list is going to make the most difference to our ability to develop the work and lifestyles we enjoy, it is buying time.

For most of us, the sense is either that money is scarce and you need to work more to earn more, or that your time is very valuable and therefore also scarce. Either way, we all feel time poor. So what can we do?

Astonishingly, they report an hour long commute has a similar sized impact on your happiness as having no job at all

Well, they say if you want something give it away, and it is apparently the same with time. For instance, in a study cited by Dunn and Norton, those volunteering for just 15 minutes a week felt like they had more free time as a result of giving some up.

So how do you buy time? It’s usually a trade-off. Maybe you take a lower paying job closer to home, or you leave the overtime on the table, or (as the authors suggest) resist the urge to invest in time-sinks like cinematic TVs.

The three big ‘time wins’

Dunn and Norton say the big three areas to focus on are commuting, watching television (and I think we can safely extend this to screen time in 2020) and socialising.

Astonishingly, they report an hour long commute has a similar scale impact on your happiness as having no job at all. While another survey found that one of the greatest sources of happiness was simply playing with your kids.

Even if you feel you’re stuck with the commute, making a conscious effort to directly trade screen time in favour of social interaction could have huge benefits on your happiness.

Time and money don’t have to be rivals, but we can probably spend both more wisely.

4) Pay now, consume later

white yacht on dock

Photo by Karim MANJRA on Unsplash

Reverse the debt process – take the purchase pain on the chin now and you’ll enjoy it more later.

We live in a culture where it’s possible to fulfil small desires very quickly, without paying for them upfront. This phenomenon is only speeding up – look at the rapid rise of store credit firm Klarna, as a recent example.

The products often don’t make us happy in a lasting way, while the debts definitely make us unhappy. They also limit our future spending power and, by extension, future opportunities to use that money in beneficial ways.

Our natural instinct is to seize a benefit and delay the pain (payment). Reversing this process makes us happier

Dunn and Norton say that reversing this process, conversely, has great benefits in terms of happiness. Paying upfront for something – whether it’s a city break or an Xbox – and spending some time anticipating it can actually increase our enjoyment of the product or experience.

What’s more, they say that regularly using this anticipation process, even just thinking about tomorrow’s dinner, makes you a more optimistic, happier person.

What purchases can you make now and anticipate?

The process works best when delaying the experience allows you to research aspects of it that will increase your expectations of a positive experience (e.g. looking up menus, looking at hotel pics).

They say it’s also particularly effective when the experience itself is likely to be brief, as it allows you to maximise your happiness from the consumption. Of course, this doesn’t work for everything: don’t delay your MOT, for example.

The authors also point out that our natural instinct is to seize a benefit and delay the pain (payment). This is the sneaky power of debt – the reason we find it easy to use credit cards, but hard to save for pensions – but it’s also the thing least likely to make us happy.

Dunn and Norton’s research tells us that if you can do the reverse of that instinct, pay upfront and ideally consume later, you’ll be a lot happier as a result of your spending.

5) Invest in others

woman holding white and black coffee cup
Photo by Javier Molina on Unsplash

Spending money on others makes us even happier than spending money on ourselves.

Dunn and Norton recount an experiment in Vancouver in which a student handed people $5-20 to spend on either themselves or someone else. Those who did the latter reported a much higher degree of happiness than those who spent the cash on themselves – no matter how much they’d been given.

The link between happiness and what they call ‘prosocial spending’ is remarkably universal

A much broader study of US citizens found a similar correlation, as did one that compared similar experiments between a rich country (Canada) and a poor one (Uganda). Dunn and Norton describe this link between happiness and what they call ‘prosocial spending’ as “remarkably universal”.

Make it a choice, make a connection, make an impact

Again, Dunn and Norton say that there are things you can do to increase the happiness return. 

First, make it a choice (mandatory charity is less satisfying). Second, make a connection (perhaps by giving in person or to someone that’s close in some way or even just to a charity of your choosing). Third, pick something that has a notable impact, even if it’s a small donation (they cite examples like malaria nets, or spontaneously buying meals for strangers).

Interestingly, even if you don’t have a philanthropic bone in your body, Dunn and Norton note studies that found those who routinely gave money away also wound-up wealthier over the longrun.

Those are the five principles behind ‘Happy Money’. They’ve certainly come to shape the way I think about my spending. How can you adapt them in your life?

How can we help you?

What issues are you facing? What questions do you have about managing your money in the creative industries? What would be most helpful to you?

We don’t have all the answers, but maybe we can find someone that does.

Send your questions and suggestions to creativemoneycontact@gmail.com.
We want to hear from you.
Categories
Guides Resources

UK arts funding, grants and development opportunities

Here you’ll find a list of UK arts funding opportunities, split into sectors. Also included are other grants and selected development or training opportunities relevant to the creative industries.

Current opportunities will usually appear first in the Creative Money newsletter and then filter through to this page. The newsletter is totally free, so sign-up below if you want to get a head start.

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Want to let an audience of UK creative workers know about a funding, grant or development opportunity? Seen something we’ve missed? Drop us a line using creativemoneycontact@gmail.com.


Skip to sector:

Relevant ‘evergreen’ funding opps or resources will be listed under the ‘ongoing’ section for each sector.


In need of financial support amid the Covid-19 pandemic? We’ve rounded-up some options here: Coronavirus support: resources for the creative industries


Multi-sectoral support

Ongoing
The Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants

Supports artists, community and cultural organisations with grants in the range of £1,000-£100,000. Their remit has been tweaked (and will remain so until April 2021) for the recent relaunch in order to better respond to the needs of individuals, freelancers and small organisations working within or supporting the arts.

Clore Duffield Foundation

Funds UK arts/social charities (particularly performing arts) on an ongoing basis with grants ranging from £10,000 up to £1 million. You can apply anytime but it’s worth noting that the trustees only meet to make decisions twice a year – normally in June and December.

The Idlewild Trust

Funds registered UK charities working within the arts sector – in particular, projects relating to the nurturing of talent and development of professional opportunities – with grants of up to £5,000.

Art/design

Up to £25K grants for British Council Arts UK in Australia season

All or part of the project must be presented in Australia between 1 September 2021 to 13 March 2022 and align with the theme ‘Who are we now?’ Deadline: 17 August, 2020

Work/Leisure wants has put out a call for new and mid-career artists

Work/Leisure is inviting emerging and mid-career artists, living and working in the UK/Europe, to create new work in 2020. Successful applicants will be provided with an overall budget of £1500 and administrative and curatorial support from the W/L team, Abingdon Studios, and residency partners. Deadline: 17 August, 2020

Jerwood Art Fund Makers Open 2021

Jerwood Art Fund Makers Open 2021 has five £5,000 grants for early-career UK-based artists and makers to develop and present ambitious new works. Deadline: 26 August, 2020.

Unlimited launches new commission round for disabled artists

Unlimited is an arts commissioning programme that enables new work by disabled artists to reach UK and international audiences. They will have £500,000 to commission work from disabled artists and companies in three strands: Main Commission awards, Research and Development awards and Emerging Artists awards. Applications don’t open until October, but they’re getting the word out nice and early. Deadline: 27 October, 2020

Audio/radio

Update coming soon…

Film/TV/video

BFI/Doc Society Short Film Fund

A fund to support emerging UK creatives in all-forms of non-fiction film, including immersive and VR projects. Successful applicants will get a grant of up to £15,000 for production costs and projects must not be more than 40 minutes in length. Deadline: 18 August, 2020

€1.5 million for Cinemas as Innovation Hubs for Local Communities

The Commission is launching a €1.5M call for proposals to create innovative cultural hubs around cinema theatres, notably in areas where the Covid-19 crisis has had a very strong impact. Deadline: 21 August, 2020

Ongoing
Creative England’s New Ideas fund

Creative England’s New Ideas Fund can offer grants between £1000 and £25,000 to support the development of new and innovative ideas for screen-based storytelling entrepreneurs and businesses in the English regions. Applications considered on a rolling basis.

BFI Young Audiences Content Fund

A fund supporting the development and/or production of broadcasting content with public service values for under-18s in the UK.

BFI Network

A development and networking platform from the BFI, aimed at supporting new and emerging film talent. Offers some funding, though its short film grants have been currently paused due to COVID-19.

BFI Development Funding

Intends to back projects that might not otherwise secure early-stage financing, though you need to demonstrate prior filmmaking experience to qualify. Funds have been tweaked to front-load payments, if necessary, during COVID-19.

Music

Ongoing
HelpMusicians Funding Wizard

Yes, the name is daft, but this is an incredibly helpful tool for quickly assessing your music funding options. You simply enter some information in the form (type of musician, genre, career stage etc.) and it produces a list of potential funding opportunities for you.

Publishing

Call for disabled writers to pitch arts pieces

Art UK is looking for pitches from disabled writers who want to write about art and artists. Explore http://artuk.org for inspiration. Rates are around £100–£150 for pieces between 700 and 1,200 words. Send your pitches to andrew.shore@artuk.org and lydia.figes@artuk.org

Ongoing
Journo Resources: funding

The website Journo Resources has a great section and newsletter on funding for journalists.

Theatre and Performing Arts

Update coming soon…

green and white braille typewriter
Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

How can we help you?

What issues are you facing? What questions do you have about managing your money in the creative industries? What would be most helpful to you?

We don’t have all the answers, but maybe we can find someone that does.

Send your questions and suggestions to creativemoneycontact@gmail.com.
We want to hear from you.