Art Collection Liverpool is a new community fund for local artists in Liverpool, created to support the arts industry after being hit hard during the coronavirus pandemic.
Throughout the course of the COVID pandemic, little support has been available to our artists and creators, our musicians, dancers, painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, doodlers, songwriters, our bards and our storytellers – the very people whose work has brought us light in the dark, hope in the midst of fear. Emergency funding hasn’t been enough, and we are at risk of losing creatives and artists to other areas.
Without art, our lives become monotonous and boring. Two words that have never been used to describe Liverpool.
The Arts Collection team value the arts, and don’t want to see artists spend more hours trying to support their work than actually creating. The grants can fund anything, from supplies, space, travel, exhibitions, gigs, projects, equipment, membership of a body, to heating, or even removing some financial worry to foster a more creative mindset.
The team are particularly interested in supporting artists who have been traditionally underrepresented, Black art, Queer art, art from minority communities, art for and by disabled people. While the aim is to primarily support artists, they will also consider grants to small, community-run or grassroots organisations that further creation in the community.
Members of the community can donate £1 each week, which becomes £500 micro-grants for local artists. Members nominate their favourite local artists that they would like to see funded, and vote on who should receive the money.
Each month, the Arts Collection team collect nominations from you the givers, for artists you think should receive the next month’s grant. Then the community votes on who will receive these funds. The top four artists in the vote will receive the funding. Collectively, they will be a significant local funder of Liverpool artists.
With over 30 members so far, support is growing, and Art Collection Liverpool have already made their first grant to local musician Kali Diston Jones, with a second grant due to be granted in July.
To join Art Collection Liverpool and show your support for our fantastic creative community in Liverpool, visit the website here: www.artcollectionliverpool.co.uk
