Leeds provides grants for online artists

Thanks to the funding, artists will be able to bring culture into everyone’s homes

With citizens stuck at home, artists and arts organisations are among the groups that have been hit the hardest by the lockdown and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Cancelled shows, postponed events and booked venues are just the tip of the iceberg for cultural workers. Luckily, some countries and cities have quickly taken action in order to ensure their wellbeing and their businesses’ survival during these trying times.  

A new initiative from Leeds

Leed City Council also recently adopted its own measures for protecting cultural workers over the next few months. Their approach, however, not only ensures that artists will be able to keep doing what they’re doing but also gives every citizen of the city the chance to have a real artistic and cultural experience from the comfort of their home.

As of last week, local authorities in Leeds have made available 1,200-pound grants for artists and arts organisations in order to support them through the crisis. Thanks to the newly expanded funding, they will have the opportunity to find new ways to entertain people from their own homes, thus contributing to keeping the cultural life in the city going.

Some great examples of already established online cultural events based in Leeds are live streams of Swing Dance Leeds and singing and ukulele workshop from Woolpack Studios.

Upon the unveiling of the new initiative Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council, stated that “These are uniquely challenging times for the people of Leeds when we are all having to adapt to unprecedented circumstances which impact every aspect of our daily lives. As we face this pandemic together, our cultural community can play a pivotal role in spreading the message to people across the city that they are not alone and that they can still take part in some of the many things which make Leeds such a special place. It is our hope that these grants will inspire our fantastic arts organisations to rise to the challenge, bring their ideas directly into people’s homes and create new and lasting experiences and connections.”

Thanks to the governments around Europe who are ensuring the survival of artists and cultural workers, citizens will once again be able to enjoy the fruits of their labour live and in-person once the crisis has abated.