The city of Madrid, a European epicentre of the COVID-19 crisis, has announced the creation of a €500,000 fund for the purchase of contemporary art. Intended to support both artists and galleries based in the Spanish capital, the plan is one of several emergency measures announced last week aimed at getting money into the pockets of workers and businesses in its cultural sector as the wider economy deteriorates. Part of a new annual fund worth €460m, including subsidies and grants for the creation and exhibition of art, support for international exchange and education, the plan calls for Madrid galleries and artists, including artists without representation, to propose work for purchase by the city, with decisions to be made in an emergency session of the Commission for the Valuing of Acquisitions by the Community of Madrid. The local government also announced its commitment to go ahead with all municipal exhibition programming agreed prior to the current public-health crisis regardless of the delay required.
In Liverpool, media arts centre FACT is offering artists based in the North of England a £1,500 grant to develop work. Ten early-career artists will be chosen to present digital works and be given career support and mentorship over a 3-month period. The opportunity is a response to the growing need to support artists and freelancers amidst the uncertainty caused by measures put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19. Nicola Triscott, CEO/Director at FACT, said: ‘Artists are the heart of FACT’s activity and its community and we want to support them during this crisis. We intend to use our expertise in art in the digital realm to enable a cohort of artists to develop their practice and exhibit new projects online.’
The digital works created will form part of The Living Planet, FACT’s 12-month online programme, enabling the grantees to join other artists who are currently exploring the impact of human actions on the natural world as part of the programme. Potential applicants can submit proposals until midnight on 26 April and also find out more information about the scheme here.
06 April 2020
