On why we're trying 'The Hop Fund'

We lost a lot of freelancers during COVID and its aftermath. Between the cost of living, political uncertainty and, generally, there not being enough money to go around, it often feels like artists are the first to go.

Writing is a profession. But finding paid time to write, especially at the beginning of a new project, is incredibly difficult.

After clinging on for what felt like dear life, I sidestepped into a wonderful full-time job in Heritage to get away from it all. And guess what? My own creative practice went down the drain.

Trying to find space to be creative when your mental energy is taken up by the role that pays the bills can be incredibly difficult. I know I'm not the only one who has felt that.

Over the past few years, I've produced or consulted on some brilliant new writing, including Make It by the ever-wonderful Caroline Lamb, which had a fantastic run in Salford earlier this year. I've also loved watching new work at nights like Offcut at 53two, creating space for artists to experiment and share new ideas.

New writing matters. It tells stories that need to be told - stories that reflect the world around us and have something meaningful to say.

Along the way, I've met so many people who don't identify as writers. The notes-on-the-phone poets. The journaling queens. The people who can reel off a soliloquy in a voice note. Those stories are just as valid, even if they don't yet call themselves writers.

And if we want those stories to exist, we have to invest in the people telling them.

So I decided to put my money where my mouth is.

As a writer who's been invested in by some wonderful people throughout my career, it felt like the right time to pay that generosity forward.

I've saved up a little money to begin some creative projects of my own, but I knew I wanted to set some aside to support someone else too.

So here's the idea.

The Hop Fund is a £100 seed micro commission for one writer in the North West of England to simply write.

No catch. No prescribed art form. No expectation of a finished production. Just the theme of ‘Stories That Feel Like Home’ to guide and a little bit of money to create some breathing room.

I genuinely have no idea how it's going to go.

But I spend a lot of time observing the arts sector and the extraordinary amount of unpaid labour that goes into making work happen. I keep wondering: what happens if we do things a little differently? What happens if we trust a writer with a little time, a little money and an idea?

Applications are open and close on Friday 14 August

If you know someone who writes, or someone who doesn't think they're a writer yet but probably is, I would love it if you could send them this opportunity.

Head over to The Hop Fund tab or our Instagram @hopskipandajumpco to find out more.

Let's see what stories find their way home. ❤️