More #66 Artist Commissions for early 2021 announced
Over xmas & new year I was thinking about the responses to our recent call-out for a commission of £3k. We were making the decision over that period – and the responses had been great, so the usual angst at our end over choosing and who to turn down.
This is hyper-conscious just now as we are aware that freelancers have suffered during Covid (we have an ongoing survey recording that across the #66 region btw, feel free to join in, the more data the better). Currently, it is telling us that 33.6% of #66artists have seen their income reduce by between 50% -100% during Covid. 13% have lost 90 - 100% of their income. Only 28% had not lost any income. 70% had not applied for support from any source and the top things on the wish list are exhibitions and COMMISSION OPPORTUNITIES.
So by way of response, we would like to announce a further £9k of commissions for the beginning of 2021 (£3k has already been committed). We are continuing to work on further funds for more commissions later in the year. While we are not rich (and we are definitely looking at a big deficit this financial year unless we can get recovery funds) we want to use this time to be positive, to build new relationships with artists and creatives and to keep the #66 project’s terrific momentum going, and to help some artists to keep going.
The #66 themes of connecting across the region between west coast Cumbria and east coast Teesmouth via Durham and Carlisle seem to strike a chord – and particularly that it is about making the region the most liveable and vibrant for the future generations – the under 40s – by focussing on culture, sustainability, digital as priorities.
We want that to really work, it is vital for the future of our region that we keep doing everything we can to make it a great place to live and work and that it becomes THE place to come and live (we have so many good things going for us, we just need a bit more and some fine-tuning).
We are still honing what the new commission call-outs will be. To keep up to date and register interest please click this link, register (and yes, fill out that survey form - if you haven't already!!) https://edenarts.typeform.com/....
Adrian
Director, Eden Arts
