Creative Council developed to support struggling grassroots artists

A Manchester-based Creative Council has been created to help local grassroot creatives survive in precarious times for artists.

The creative industry is under strain in Manchester and it is said creatives are not getting paid.

Liam Heeley, founder of the Manchester Creative Council, said: “There’s a mess of the creative world, people haven’t got the money meaning there’s a barrier to the industry.”

A petition started by a grassroot creative, Natalia Rog, called to ‘address unnecessary barriers facing grassroots venues and artists.’

She said: “The support from this petition can build a realistic pathway toward creatives earning a living from their art.”

The petition generated a response from the city council, but Liam said it “wasn’t sufficient enough” and wants “immediate action”.

‘Everyone who is entertaining the city is broke on their a**e‘

Manchester Creative Council

However, the positive reaction of the petition inspired Liam to make his own difference. He said he still had “all this fire left” in him to create the Manchester Creative Council.

The aim of the creative council is to give grassroot creatives within Manchester opportunities and support, something that he felt “lacked before”.

Liam said: “The importance of the Creative Council is that it gives people an education on how to survive.”

Liam aims to create networking events for creatives to connect with brands and “give them a space where they can find all the information, they need to support themselves”.

Liam said: “Currently there is little funding or education for creative individuals within the industry. There is this barrier stopping people from reaching their full potential.

“People want to help they just don’t know how.” 

He said funding given to venues was not beneficial to creatives, adding: “Venues who have received funding have just resulted in increasing their venue fees. There has been this curtain where people don’t know where the money is going.”

Liam said he understood concerns from people unsure of where their funding would be going”

“I do not think it’s that the help is not there, it’s just that people don’t know how to help,” he said.

He said the approach of the Creative Council would “ensure that everyone who wants it has the support they need”.

“This would take shape in funding for equipment rental or late-night taxi fees paid for, so that all creatives who need financial support have it, to make creating their art accessible.

“People come into the city to get entertained by the local talent, but right now everyone who is entertaining the city are broke on their a**e.”

Liam describesdthe situation currently: “How are some artists getting paid £40 to perform, and sometimes they’re not even getting that.

“There’s a gap. It is like Hollywood; you have either got the famous or the homeless. It seems like this divide can be broken down.”

The Creative Council will strive to educate and break these barriers down, Liam said: “I think a lot of the wrong advice is getting passed around because the industry has not been educated.

“People still get imposter syndrome but if more people can realise the experience and knowledge they hold, they will be happier sharing it.

“By the end of 2026 its about getting the support for people who need it and ensure there is less gatekeeping,

“Everyone’s got the knowledge.”

The Creative Council are heading their first event at the end of January to create a space to connect creatives, and make the industry accessible.