Mentors include a wide range of award-winning industry professionals

Screen Skills Ireland, the skills development unit within Screen Ireland, is delighted to announce the introduction of a new structured mentoring scheme, Screen Mentoring. Over 100 Irish and international industry professionals from the film, TV, animation, VFX and Immersive Technology sectors have signed up to be mentors for the scheme to give something back to the industry by sharing their knowledge and experience. The scheme will support 50 mentees to avail of mentor support throughout 2020.

Mentors who have signed up to the scheme include Lenny Abrahamson (‘Normal People’), Michael Zam (‘Feud: Bette and Joan’), Ed Guiney (Element Pictures), Cathal Gaffney (Brown Bag Films), Colum Slevin (Facebook AR/VR), Shannon George (‘Blues Clues’), Jo Homewood (‘Black ‘47’), Gilly Fogg (‘Bob The Builder’), Paul Walker (‘EastEnders’), Lisa Mulcahy (‘Years and Years’), Grainne Humphreys (VMDIFF), Alix Wiseman (9 Story), and Patrick O’Neill (Wildcard Distribution). Mentors will provide support across the areas of Business & Producing, Production, Creative & Development and Distribution & Festivals

Award-winning Production Designer and industry mentor, Tom Conroy (‘Vikings’, ‘Tudors’, ‘Intermission’) said “I’m delighted to be part of the Screen Mentoring initiative. When I started off in the film & TV industry, which happened to be in the UK, I was mentored by a number of prominent production designers… I wish to pay it forward, as they generously gave me advice and experience which has proven to be invaluable.”

Gareth Lee, Manager at Screen Skills Ireland, added “We’re delighted to introduce this new Screen Mentoring initiative. Mentoring is a proven way of supporting career progression and this scheme will allow upcoming talent to enhance their development with guidance and support from experienced professionals.”

The Screen Mentoring scheme will provide screen professionals with mentoring support at key stages in their career development that will encompass business, creative and/or technical mentoring. Mentors will offer their mentees practical, tailored advice and guidance based on their industry experience, on a one to one basis. The mentoring will be offered remotely online due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19.

With a panel of key industry mentors now assembled, Screen Skills Ireland is looking for applications from mentees who are seeking the support and guidance of a mentor to learn and grow professionally. In order to apply for the scheme, prospective mentees should visit https://screenmentoring.ie/ and complete the online application form.

The scheme is open to industry professionals working in the Irish screen sector with a minimum of three year’s full-time relevant experience. Diversity and inclusion will be factored into the selection process for all mentees. All mentoring will be offered remotely online due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 restrictions.

Irish Equity endorses the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) National Arts Recovery Plan

Irish Equity today wholeheartedly endorsed the recovery programme which has been launched by the National Campaign for the Arts (NCFA) to ensure that the long term damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic to the sector is minimised. Karan O’Loughlin, Irish Equity Organiser, said that it wished to acknowledge “the widespread consultation and painstaking research undertaken by the many NCFA volunteers in drafting this National Arts Recovery Plan.

“All TV, Film and Theatre work has ceased and theatres will be among the last arts-based activities to resume full production because of the requirements of social distancing. This plan is a comprehensive document which details not alone the critical areas where a response by the State is most needed, but highlights how the wider community will benefit from each step. These are not handouts but an investment programme to restore the vibrancy of our arts sector, one of the most vibrant and inspiring success stories of modern Ireland.”

It is estimated that arts-based organisations are losing €2.9 million in income per month of shutdown and the economic impact to date is estimated at over €10 million. 19,000 days of paid work had been lost to the end of April 2020. Another €6.4 million in potential income will be lost from cancelled activities to the end of May. Over 12,000 events have been cancelled. In just 8 weeks, more than 2.4 million members of the public have lost out on participating in a variety of artistic experiences.

Padraig Murray, Irish Equity President said, “It is vitally important that the Minister, the wider Government, the Arts Council and all other relevant stakeholders, in cooperation with the entire arts community, now move with urgency to implement the 13 key points detailed in the document. The arts and culture sector has been decimated by this crisis and will be one of the last to recover, thus further impoverishing artists and arts workers further in this low pay sector.”

‘The Actor as Creator’ initiative

Dear Equity member,

Screen Ireland has announced details of a new ‘The Actor as Creator’ initiative to showcase Irish acting talent in partnership with Bow Street, with the support of Irish Equity. The ‘Actor as Creator’ is a new initiative designed to create a diverse range of work from unique creative voices within the Irish screen acting community. 

The scheme is designed to promote and invest in Irish screen acting talent, during a time when social distancing measures are affecting traditional production activity. This talent development and promotion initiative will showcase the unique creative voices of 30 actors to create a short filmic work that expresses their creative vision. The scheme is open to experienced screen actors and successful recipients will originate, perform and produce the short filmic work.

If you are interested in this and would like more details on how to apply for the Actor as Creator programme visit:

https://www.screenireland.ie/news/screen-ireland-bow-street-launch-new-initiative-the-actor-as-creator-to-sho

Irish Equity Benevolent Fund

The Executive of Irish Equity provides emergency assistance to its members in financial difficulty though the Irish Equity Benevolent Fund. This fund is currently limited in scope as it relies on voluntary donations and applications for assistance are treated in strictest confidence. The fund is managed and arbitrated by two trustees who are also members of Irish Equity and nominated by the union’s executive. There is no disclosure of any applicant’s details to the Executive which is only advised of the number of applications and the amounts approved. The fund is regulated and subject to audit in the normal way. All applications will be dealt with on a case by case basis and members of Irish Equity may apply for emergency assistance by sending a confidential email to equity@siptu.ie. Please insert the words ‘Confidential benevolent fund application’ in the subject line.

Applications are treated with utmost sensitivity although there are basic eligibility criteria. These criteria are not in any respect intended to question the dignity or sincerity of any applicant, but rather to ensure as fair a disbursement as possible of the limited fund.

Application criteria:

  • Applications will be addressed on a Case by Case basis. 
  • Applications will be confidential to the trustees and the Equity Official
  • Applicants must be in benefit/good standing.
  • Multiple applications by any individual will be discouraged.
  • Large amounts will not be payable given the limited nature of the fund.

Have you been refused the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment or have a question about eligibility?

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW for an online meeting about Social Welfare payments and rent supports available during the COVID-19 crisis and how to navigate them, at 3.30pm on Friday 17th April. Hosted by Irish Equity, SIPTU, The National Campaign For The Arts and Theatre Forum.

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Dear member,

There is now a helpdesk available from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the COVID-19 Emergency Payment. The Department has agreed to handle individual queries from artists and arts workers about the payment so if you’ve been refused the payment or have a question about your eligibility you can now contact the Department directly, as follows and an official will contact you to discuss your query.

Please email artsunit@chg.gov.ie with the following information:

  • your telephone number
  • a short description of your question

It is important that all of you who did not qualify for the COVID-19 payment or are still having difficulties accessing it would use this facility so that the Department can see first hand the extent of the problem we are pressing them on.

SIPTU calls for increased support for artists unable to avail of Covid Unemployment Payment

SIPTU and Irish Equity have written to the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, calling for the Government to urgently increase the financial support for workers in the Arts sector who have been unable to avail of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

SIPTU and Irish Equity Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said: “Many artists in the PAYE sector are outside the eligibility criteria for the PUP. The fact that they were not working immediately before 13th March and were not made unemployed at that point disqualifies them. 

“However, the reality is that many were due to start work very shortly after this date or over the course of the summer. This planned work has now disappeared as a direct result of the Covid-19 emergency. Among the artists in this situation are up to 100 performers in the cast of the RTE show, Fair City.

“Artists who are over 66 years of age are also precluded from claiming the PUP despite the fact that they work and perform regularly. It is clear therefore that the Government needs to do more for artists and Arts sector workers to ensure they have enough support to survive this crisis and return to work in their professions.”

She added: “We are calling on the Government to expand the scope of the current self-employed artist social protection scheme. The scheme should include all professional artists and arts workers whether PAYE or self-employed and its payment should be brought up to the level of the Covid-19 PUP.

“The EU Copyright Directive should also be implemented as this would be useful in creating additional income streams for performers and artists whose work is streamed online.”

Read the full text of the letter sent to Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan.

COVID-19 NCFA Survey

In an effort to assess potential damages of the impact of COVID-19 on the artistic community and to endeavour to provide potential solutions to the situation, the NFCA is collecting data to aggregate information on cancelled events, postponed performances, lost opportunities and loss of income in the sector. Please take a few minutes to fill in this important survey HERE

COVID-19 Coronavirus Information

Current Advice
Please see below for our current advice regarding coronavirus. This is an ever changing situation so click here to access the updated HSE advice

Financial advice
Understand your rights to the different kinds of financial support available during the Coronavirus outbreak and how to claim click here for more information. This includes support for the self-employed. The dedicated social protection #COVID19 phoneline is open from 9am-5pm, 01-2481398/ 1890-800-024 and people are asked to not visit your Intreo Centre if at all possible. To download the form click here or to get a form posted to you, please email forms@welfare.ie or call the phoneline.

Industry specific guides
The Arts Council has confirmed that it has notified theatres that it will honour all funding commitments made to them and that there will be no financial penalties for theatres that are unable to deliver key activities and events arising from the impact of the COVID-19 virus.  That will mean that theatres should, in turn, be able to honour commitments to artists. Equity is calling on these organisations to demonstrate their true creativity and reach out in new and inventive ways to the artist community to provided as much financial and community support as possible to artists. More info here

This will be more difficult for non-funded or non-commercial production so it important that members fully understand the state support available read more.

Recorded Media (Film, TV audio etc)
All production are now ceased or on notice or cessation. For information on specific productions contact Andrea at equity@siptu.ie or Karan at koloughlin@siptu.ie

Industry Support measures
Screen Ireland has announced an initial range of measures, all of which we hope will assist those working within the sector. 

These measures are as follows:

  • They will provide 90% funding upfront on all development loans to Irish screenwriters and production companies through to 31st May 2020.
  • Existing development and production loan offers which are due to expire in the coming months will all be extended to 31st May 2020.
  • They will provide additional marketing and distribution support for upcoming Irish film and TV releases during this period.
  • They will continue to provide skills development opportunities for industry practitioners, with Screen Skills Ireland delivering some of its planned activity for 2020 online free-of-charge over the next 6-10 weeks. 

From an operations perspective, Screen Ireland and Screen Skills Ireland staff continue to work remotely and all funding schemes will continue to be made available. They are supporting filmmakers and current productions on a case-by-case basis due to the numerous complexities and variables involved. The funding application process across all areas from development, production, distribution and publicity will continue as normally as possible.

During these exceptionally challenging circumstances, Screen Ireland will continue to work with their partners to monitor the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and will review and update these measures in response to further developments.  Screen Ireland can be contacted directly with any COVID-19 related queries or concerns at info@screenireland.ie.


Be safe and minimise Risk

In addition there are some simple things you can do to minimise risk.

Preventative measures
There are six simple things members can do to protect themselves and others:
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water, or use alcohol sanitiser if handwashing facilities are not available.
2. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw it in a bin. Catch it, Bin it, Kill it. Failing that, sneeze into your elbow and avoid coughing on or near others.
3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
4. Avoid travelling if you have a temperature or cough. If you feel unwell, seek medical advice.
5. If you are worried about your symptoms, please call NHS 111. Do not go directly to your GP.
6. If you begin to feel unwell, with your engager’s permission if at work, make your way safely home and contact a health professional for advice.

Work advice
Where you are concerned about an engagement being cancelled or a contract being terminated due to coronavirus issues, please contact Irish Equity for specific advice about your situation. Andrea – equity@siptu.ie Karan – koloughlin@siptu.ie or through our website irishequity.ie (can you make this a link to the website?)

Contract issues
A matter that may arise in relation to cancelled engagements or contracts is the concept of ‘force majeure’. This will usually be a clause in the contract that outlines circumstances under which the contract may be said to have been cancelled because of events or circumstances outside the engagers control. Another concept is ‘frustration of contract’ where the contract may be said to have been discontinued because of unforeseen circumstances. The issues around these, and other contract matters, are never simple and often subject to interpretation, so your Irish Equity can be the first port of call for any query.

COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment

Following significant lobbying by SIPTU and the Irish Congress of trade Unions, the Government announced on 24th March, new measures to provide financial support to Irish workers affected by the Covid-19 crisis for both self-employed and employed workers. This includes also assistance for renters and utility bills etc.

Self Employed

Self-employed workers are eligible for the special Covid 19 unemployment benefit which has been increased to €350 per week

For self-employed workers who become ill are eligible for the Covid 19 illness benefit which has also been increased to €350 per week

If you have already received a payment of any of the Covid 19 benefits then you don’t need to do anything as there will be an automatic adjustment. If you are making a fresh claim, you can do so through this link  https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/eca524-covid-19-information-for-employees/

For Employees (PAYE Workers) 

Revenue will operate a Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme for organisations whose business activities are being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme, enables employees, whose employment is affected by the pandemic, to receive supports directly from their employer. The scheme will run for 12 weeks from 26 March 2020 but any employee who was on the payroll as at February 29th is now eligible for these payments and we are in discussion with the producers on running this through payroll wherever possible. The subsidy scheme applies to employers whether they can afford to top up employees’ wages or not.

For employees who become ill they are eligible for the COVID-19 illness benefit which has also been increased to €350 per week

For employees who have been laid off and the employer cannot make payments through the payroll they are eligible for the C19 unemployment benefit of €350 (plus normal payment for any dependants)

In April, the scheme will move to a subsidy payment based on 70% of the weekly average take home pay for each employee up to a maximum of €410 net pay. Income tax and USC will not be applied to the subsidy payment through the payroll. Employee and Employer PRSI will not apply to the subsidy or any top up payment by the employer.

If you have already received a payment of any of the Covid 19 benefits then you don’t need to do anything as there will be an automatic adjustment. If you are making a fresh claim, you can do so through this link  https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/eca524-covid-19-information-for-employees/

We also expect legislation to be passed to tomorrow freezing rents and banning evictions for the next 12 weeks also. As you may be aware the banks have agreed to give workers financially effected by Covid 19 a 3 month break from mortgage payments and applications can be made for this through your on line banking.

Further support measures for renters and utility bills etc can be accessed here:https://www.gov.ie/en/news/a6d8fa-government-announced-new-covid-19-income-support-scheme/

For any questions on the above the email addresses are:

Andrea   aholmes@siptu.ie or equity@siptu.ie
Karan koloughlin@siptu.ie

Paul Doyle – RIP

April, 2020 — Irish Equity are saddened to hear of the death of Paul Doyle who passed away peacefully but unexpectedly of natural causes on 11th April 2020. Paul was an actor with extraordinary creative talent, that included his unique voice and a passionate VO/radio artist. A dear friend and fellow actor to many who will be sadly missed by many. Our deepest condolences to Paul’s family and friends.

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