For the latest advice and information, please visit the official government and health sector websites:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK government response and advice
- Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the NHS (England)
- Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) from the HPS (Scotland)
- Latest information on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) form Public Health Wales
- Advice form the World Health Organisation
During these uncertain times, we know how important it is to support sector colleagues. The resources below have been brought together to provide information, advice and support for colleagues working in the gallery and visual arts education, and the broader cultural sectors.
We will be updating this page regularly and refining the information presented. If you think there is something you would like to see, please contact Lillie Mason, Business Development and Marketing Officer, businessandmarketing@engage.org.
Guidance from Arts Councils (UK)
- Arts Council England
- Creative Scotland
- Arts Council of Wales/Cyngor Celfyddydau Cymru
- Arts Council of Northern Ireland
Advice for artists and freelancers
- Creative & Freelance ToolKit for Covid 19 (UK) by Remi Harris
- Covid-19: Government and non-governmental support (Arts Council England)
- Information and guidance for artists and arts organisers (a-n)
- Hardship fund for AxisWeb members
- Advice, information and opportunities for visual artists (Artquest)
Children and young people
- Helping children cope with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak (WHO)
- A statement on Coronavirus and how this affects Arts Award (Trinity College London)
- Remote Arts Award – ideas for delivery in challenging times (Arts Award)
- Keeping Creative at Home: Rediscover your home as a creative space (New Direction)
- 10 museum activities to keep children entertained (Kids in Museums)
- Learning at home (Royal Museums Greenwich)
- Home School: make your own masterpiece (Art UK)
- Resources for remote learning (NSEAD)
- Supporting and reassuring children: A COVID-19 picturebook
- Research into the impact of the pandemic on children and young people
CPD and training
- Free webinars (Network of European Museum Organisations)
- Resources to support you through Coronavirus (Arts Marketing Association)
- Adobe gives Creative Cloud users 2 months free – here’s how to get it
- Culture, Health and Wellbeing: A free online training course
Digital accessibility
- How to be more accessible on social media: Twitter, Snapchat, Vimeo (Museum DCN)
- Five golden rules for compliant alt-text (AbilityNEt)
Funding
England
- COVID-19 Self-employment Income Support Scheme (GOV.UK)
- Financial support for artists and arts organisers who make exhibitions happen (a-n)
Scotland
- Open Fund: Sustaining Creative Development — individuals and organisations (Creative Scotland)
- Urgent Response COVID-19 Fund — Independent Accredited museums (Museums Galleries Scotland)
- Digital Resilience COVID-19 Fund — Museums Galleries Scotland) closing 3 July 2020
- COVID-19 Adaptation Fund (Museums Galleries Scotland)
Wales
- Funds to support the third sector (Third Sector Support Wales)
- Wales Coronavirus Resilience Fund (Community Foundation Wales)
UK
- Emergency Heritage Fund (National Lottery)
- Funding grants for museums, galleries and cultural organisations (Art Fund)
Health and wellbeing
- Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19) (Public Health England)
- Coronavirus and your wellbeing (Mind)
- Coping with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak (WHO)
- Home-based, creative ways to support mental health (March network)
- Looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak (Mental Health Foundation)
- Looking after your mental health while self-isolating (YoungMinds UK)
Online safeguarding
- Guidance for working online, and online safeguarding (Culture, Health & Wellbeing Alliance, Arts Marketing Association, 64 Million Artists and Real Ideas)
- Coronavirus: safeguarding and child protection (NSPCC)
- Safeguarding Children (Get Safe Online)
- Safeguarding and privacy (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations)
- Zoom calling and privacy (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations)
Reopening Guidance
England
- Guidance for DCMS sectors in relation to coronavirus (COVID-19) (GOV.UK)
- Guidance for people who work in performing arts, including arts organisations, venue operators and participants (GOV.UK)
- Guidance for people who work or volunteer in heritage locations (GOV.UK)
- Protective measures for holiday or after-school clubs and other out-of-school settings for children during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak (GOV.UK)
- COVID-19: Guidance for the safe use of multi-purpose community facilities (including community centres and village halls) (GOV.UK)
Scotland
- Guidance about coronavirus (COVID-19), including business, health, education and housing (Scottish Government)
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for creative studios and shared workspaces (Scottish Government)
- Welcoming Blind and partially sighted customers under social distancing measures (Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce)
Wales
- Creative industries: guidance for a phased return (Welsh Government)
- Coronavirus Guidance (ArtWorks Cymru)
UK
- NMDC Good Practice Guidelines on Opening Museums After July 4 (National Museum Directors’ Council)
- Museum Reopening Guidance and Checklist (AIM and the Museum Development Network)
- Possible Timeline for Museum Reopening (NMDC)
Reopening advice and opinion
- The American Alliance of Museums has published a collection of sample reopening plans from organisation across the US
- With the help of its members, NEMO has created a map that provides an easy-to-read overview of European countries’ plans to reopen museums to the public (Museums and Heritage)
- The guidelines for easing COVID-19 restrictions in Ireland include advice for when museums and galleries can reopen (Gov.ie)
- How Berlin museums will manage the re-opening of their museums in May? (ICOM UK, first published by artnet)
- A reporter from Art Newspaper went to one of the first German museums to reopen after the lockdown and describes the social distancing measures being used (Art Newspaper)
- Zoo and Tierpark in Berlin have outlined what restrictions will be in place when they reopen — a useful case study for outdoor attractions (Zoo Berlin)
- How are museums in Sweden coping with the Covid-19 pandemic? ICOM UK Committee Member, Arran Rees talks with Elisabeth Boogh, the Collections Strategist at Stockholm County (Läns) Museum in Sweden (ICOM UK)
- How Museums in China Are Reopening Post-COVID-19 (ICOM UK, first published by Dragon Tail)
- Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium will partly reopen their doors this May and have outlined their prevention measures and practical information here (Royal Museums of Fine Arts Belgium)
- AIA Re-occupancy Assessment Tool: A framework of strategies for reoccupying buildings and businesses that are in the process of transitioning from being fully closed to fully open (AIA)
- Reopening Guidance: Considerations for the Attractions Industry outlines principles and approaches to consider for reopening (IAAPA)
Working from home
- #CreativeNetwork – a daily online get-together open to anyone involved in arts, culture and creativity (Voluntary Arts)
- Top tips for self-isolating (Creative England)
- Creative isolation — home-based, creative ways to support mental health (March Network)
- Digital Working, Meetings and Events factsheet (Scottish Contemporary Arts Network)
Further advice from visual arts and cultural organisations
- Organisational and Employment FAQs (Museum Association)
- Coronavirus: How will it affect museums and what can be done to mitigate the impact? (Museums Association)
- Information and signposts to resources (People Dancing)
- Guidance for Educators (GEM)
- Resources for practitioners and organisations (Culture Health and Wellbeing)
- Stay well, supported and creative: our new microsite for Covid-19 updates (ArtsProfessional)
Scotland
- Covid-19 funding and resource directory (Creative Scotland)
- Updates and advice (SCAN – Scottish Contemporary Art Network)
- Guidance for galleries and studios (SCAN – Scottish Contemporary Art Network)
- Museums Galleries Scotland – Coronavirus Guidance for Museums
- Advice and information on support for artists and creatives in Scotland (The Skinny)
- Youth Theatre Arts Scotland Phased Renewal Toolkit for Theatre Arts
- Coronavirus update: Support for members (Scottish Artists Union)
- Keeping your voice heard in the face of Covid-19 (Scotland Contemporary Art Network)
Wales
Last updated: 13 January 2021