GM Artist Hub today opens two new funding opportunities to support independent artists and creative freelancers in Greater Manchester.

MIF came together with arts organisations across Greater Manchester to form the GM Hub earlier this year in order to help independent artists access support, advice and opportunities during the COVID-19 crisis. The new funds will offer both financial and peer support in response to conversations with the region’s creative community over the past six months.

The Revive Fund offers a £500 hardship bursary plus peer networking support and a 1-to-1 advice session with the GM Artist Hub for the most financially vulnerable members of the region’s creative community. Revive Fund bursaries will be awarded to 10 creative freelancers selected at random from eligible applications.

The Reboot Fund offers grants of £1500 to support the development of a new piece of performance-based work for a live-space or a digital platform over a three-month period. Drawing on the strengths of the 13 organisations that make up GM Artist Hub, the fund also offers dedicated time and support for early career artists to undertake research and development of a new creative idea, with a sharing event for an invited audience at the end of the three-month period. There are 8 Reboot Fund grants available with applications opening on Tuesday 6 October.

Since its formation in April 2020 GM Artist Hub has offered over 300 private advice sessions to local artists and a number of larger opportunities for artists to learn about specific funding streams and connect with chief executives and artistic directors across the region. The Revive Fund and Reboot Fund have been made possible with thanks to a £60,000 grant from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.

Participating venues and arts organisations are: Community Arts North West, Contact, HOME, The Lowry, Manchester International Festival, Octagon Theatre Bolton, Oldham Coliseum Theatre, Royal Exchange Theatre, SICK! Festival, STUN (Sustained Theatre Up North), Waterside Arts and Creative Industries Trafford, hÅb/Word of Warning and Z-arts.

Further opportunities will be announced in due course. More information about GM Artist Hub and the Revive and Reboot Funds here.