Greater Birmingham and Solihull
Mentoring to help small arts & culture organisations set up digital revenue streams in the wake of COVID-19
Helping the arts rebuild the future
We are delighted to be recruiting a second cohort of Digital Welcome arts organisations. Application deadline is 12th August
The COVID-19 crisis has been a particularly tough time for arts and culture organisations, with live performance and in-person experiences much harder to make possible with social distancing regulations. The ability to deliver digital experiences to audiences can play a key role in the long term financial resilience and growth of the cultural sector – there is both creative and revenue opportunity from online or blended audience experiences.
Digital Welcome connects arts organisation leaders with mentors who provide direct, tailored support in identifying and planning digital revenue streams. Over three weeks, they will work together to plan and test these online sources of revenue.
Feel free to get in touch with questions at hello@digitalwelcome.org.
Volunteer digital mentors
By sharing their digital skills, digital mentors can ensure the future of local arts and cultural organisations. Several informal hours over three weeks can make all the difference
Small arts organisations
We’re here to help you get back on your feet in the wake of COVID-19. Improve your online presence and implement or improve revenue streams over this free three week programme.
Programme delivered by:
The Digital Welcome programme’s second cohort will run between:
17th August – 6th September 2020
Arts organisations: apply here by August 12th
We’re delighted that you’re interested in applying to Digital Welcome. The programme will take you through the process of improving online audience engagement, whilst identifying and planning online or digital/physical revenue streams. The programme is designed to have the option of complementing any emergency relief funding you may apply for in the coming weeks.
To apply, you’ll need to be an organisation negatively affected by COVID-19 with less than 50 employees based in the Greater Birmingham and Solihull region. This includes: Birmingham, Solihull, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Tamworth, Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest. The Digital Welcome Arts and Culture strand is part of a wider Digital Welcome programme, and is delivered by Limina and Citizens Online. It is funded by Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.
The data you submit in this form will be for the purposes of assessing your eligibility as a Digital Welcome organisation, solely for the Digital Welcome project partners. It will be stored in line with GDPR regulation.
Digital mentors: apply here by August 12th
We’re delighted you are interested in joining Digital Welcome as a Digital Mentor for the West Midlands arts and culture strand.
We are currently looking for digital mentors who live in, or have links with the West Midlands to play a key role in supporting local arts organisations. Digital mentors do not need to be tech pros, the most important thing is general confidence with picking up online skills and sharing that knowledge with others. It can be a hugely rewarding experience that will help your community’s economy and arts scene recover.
We welcome you to apply below. An application should take around ten minutes.
Any questions, please contact hello@digitalwelcome.org.
The data you submit in this form will be for the purposes of assessing your eligibility as a Digital Welcome SME, solely for the Digital Welcome project partners. It will be stored in line with GDPR regulation.
Frequently asked questions
Does the programme cost anything for organisations?
Digital Welcome is free for organisations. Volunteer digital mentors who are passionate about their local community economies play a crucial role in helping arts organisations get back on their feet.
If my organisation already has an online presence can I apply?
Yes, we welcome applications from arts leaders who want to both create and improve their online presence
What parts of arts and culture does this cover?
The strand is part of the wider Digital Welcome programme and covers (but is not limited to) music, dance, theatre, workshops, craft, training, arts education, heritage, fine art and performance art.
Are mentors expected to play the role of an IT help desk?
No, not at all. Whilst there will be support offered on your scheduled calls, the goal is for the organisation to feel comfortable experimenting and implementing self sufficiently
I am retired, can I still apply as a digital mentor?
Yes! We would love to see your application. Your skills and experience could be invaluable
How much time will the scheme take up?
Just a few hours a week over three weeks. The digital mentor’s time will of course be less than the organisation, who takes responsibility for implementation