The Genesis Foundation, chaired by John Studzinski, announces a new £1mn Kickstart Fund to support freelancers in the creative sector.

The fund will be rolled out in 2021, to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Foundation. It is designed to enable outstanding freelance artists to stay on their career paths and explore new possibilities in a world radically altered by Covid-19. The Genesis Kickstart Fund follows the Genesis Covid-19 Artists Fund, launched in July, to provide £100,000 of emergency funding to freelance artists associated with its programmes with the Almeida Theatre, National Theatre, Young Vic, LAMDA and The Sixteen.

The Genesis Kickstart Fund will generate structured, project-based work opportunities for a diversity of freelance creative professionals. They will earn an income as they participate in future-facing projects while continuing to build their careers and professional networks. The first projects are expected to go live in mid-2021.

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