Throughout each year, Necessity will offer various funding opportunities in alignment with its core themes. Our hope is that this will not only help support the capacity development of people, projects and networks across the UK, but also create a continual stream of ideas, provocations and learning for everyone who visits the site.

Each new funding opportunity will require certain levels of information, but the core aspect of the site is to develop relationships and foster a collaboration culture. This in turn will help identify emerging research themes and opportunities, which will also be funded.

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Below are details of the second of three funding rounds that will feature on Necessity before the summer. Our hope in creating these opportunities is three-fold:

• To release capacity within people, projects and networks to do work that may be of real interest, but would be difficult to find resources and time to pursue.
• To contribute into the development of work and research that opens fresh insights across Necessity’s five themed areas.
• To produce fresh community stories and learning that can be shared within and beyond the Necessity site 

ROUND TWO: EXPLORING THE QUESTIONS

Some Questions:

The pandemic is exposing so many contradictions and weaknesses in our way(s) of life; our systems seem at breaking point as we face a crisis that has necessitated numerous Governmental interventions. We are witnessing the biggest post-war State financial investment programme from a political party that has spent the last forty years fighting to reduce public budgets. Does this mean BIG government is back and what are the implications if this is the case?  

While many might focus on challenging the Government’s management of the crisis, others might believe we should focus on reimagining our futures. Moving away, all together, holding things in common, from such levels of dependency on State mechanisms. 

Additionally, what about our own deeply contradictory relationships to the current system and our addictive consumption habits? Just how real are the words, gestures and actions of solidarity in the UK, without being honest about how we’ve contributed in getting here? Are DIY futures reliant on cooperation and mutuality at a local level, simply mirroring the State actions of self preservation? 

Actually, does any of this matter in face of immediate need and the grief being faced? Should we focus on the deepening inequalities of access to resources, political power and the ability to survive day-to-day? Is it self-indulgent to take a step back and interrogate root problems?

Furthermore, what if this is just the first major shock for many in the West, where for so long, climate disruption has been seen as something that affects people elsewhere? What does environmental and social justice really look like now? To what degree should we focus on a different future that could be emerging?

A Confession:

These are some of the questions we at Necessity have been asking ourselves. The reality is that we are struggling to make sense of the present situation and finding it difficult to develop meaningful answers. 

It has left us with many dilemmas and revealed a deeper level of disruption as to the purposes and lack of what we do.

It seems this season requires wintering in its fullest, deepest sense; as we endure the dark and varying degrees of difficulty, the longed-for light can’t be rushed. In attempting to ‘stay with the trouble’ we are asking for help and ideas in shaping responses suited to this moment.

An Invitation:

We want to hear from freelance artists, creatives, writers, thinkers – people working individually or collectively, who we can join with on shaping responses. If you are grappling with some of the questions above and provoked by the wider systemic problems of our times, we would like to hear from you. 

We are offering grants of up to £20,000 to support and co-create work that will stand alone whilst also contributing to an overall creative programme that will be developed over the coming months. 

We are open to ideas as to what this programme will look like. We hope to explore and develop provocations that may lead to a variety of outcomes, including, but not limited to: publications; short films; newspapers and, future curated gatherings either online or in person. 

We are particularly interested in working with people and groups that are led by those with lived experience of being marginalised by the current economic and cultural systems. We are looking for responses that are emerging out of tragic despair, creative imagination and the bloody mindedness of resistance.

The Practicalities:

This funding round has an overall pot of £400,000. 

To apply, write no more than one side of an A4; or provide a 3-5 minute video explaining your thoughts and ideas. Please ask for what you need as we are deeply aware that so many people are facing financial difficulties. If this funding does not fit your purpose/

activities, please don’t apply. Make sure you tell us something about you and your lived experience(s).

The email to send this address is funding@necessity.info

The deadline for applications is 1pm on 24 February; we will not accept any applications after this time. Successful applicants will be notified by 22 March.