Having communicated an update to everyone who applied to our Arts Award Programme in 2020, we wanted to also publish this online to make everyone aware of our current position in light of the national and international response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After a great deal of discussion amongst Trustees and following guidance from our Treasurer, we have decided, with heavy hearts, that unfortunately we cannot proceed at this time with this year’s programme of Arts Awards.
We understand that there are those who applied for this year’s programme for whom the current situation will have had a devastating effect on their practice. On the other hand, we understand there are those who may also be finding ways of adapting to the situation, and could be in a position to continue with their proposed projects at this time.
We recognise that in both of these situations our funding could have a significant impact on artists’/arts organisations’ work and future planning and have considered whether there might be some way that we could offer some financial support at this time. However there are multiple reasons why we have decided it would be best for us not to proceed. Social distancing measures now in place do make it very challenging for us to undertake the assessment process fully and as we would hope to carry it out in order to ensure fairness and transparency. Additionally, as a relatively small charity we feel the impact of global market changes more than many (in terms of the impact they can have on the value of the fund we are able to allocate each year), so this necessarily also has an impact on our decision-making process about the Award programme.
Trustees will be reviewing our position later in the year, and if it seems that we may be in a position to offer some small grants later in 2020, we will release additional information about this.
2021: Our 30th Anniversary
Next year is our 30th anniversary year, and we had planned to hold a series of live events to commemorate the fact that we’ve been able to award nearly £400,000 to artists and arts organisations living/working in the East Riding of Yorkshire, City of Hull and Lincolnshire (including North and North East Lincolnshire) during the past 30 years. However, we will hopefully be deferring this to our 35th year, so that we can channel any funding we would have used to make that anniversary happen back into our Awards programme in 2021.
Therefore we hope to hear from you and perhaps to meet with you in our 30th year, and to receive your input in planning the shape that our 35th anniversary might take in 2026.
We wish you all the very best in navigating the next weeks and months, and hope that you are supported at this time by the people who will help you to stay safe and healthy.
Katie Green (Chair)
On behalf of the Trustees of the St Hugh’s Foundation for the Arts