I last updated this post on 30 June 9.00 am (AEST) with the excellent support of research associate Dr Julie Keys.
PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE
I am gathering news on how governments and arts funding agencies responding around the world to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the arts and cultural sectors. I am including general measures which are most relevant to the arts and creative industries, as well as targeted measures for these sectors. I am gathering:
information on recovery approaches
governments’ digital actions
emergency support to survive the crisis
I will add to this list, as it is a work in progress, so please do send me what you know and we can all keep up to date.
For more information about government digital initiatives, see my separate blog post.
SUMMARY
I have collected data on 54 countries. Of these, 19 countries had social insurance-style support which did not specify a total figure of support for the arts. Of the 35 countries which announced targeted funding for the arts (almost always in addition to other measures for the general economy and unemployed), 6 countries announced ‘mixed’ packages (ie included sports, heritage or similar). So the graph below just has the 29 countries I identified which had arts-specific packages I could compare.
Note: Only includes countries which had arts-specific packages I could compare. e.g. does not include Germany, Canada, Belgium, Scotland, or South Africa as they bundled other sectors into their announced packages. Also does not include social insurance measures which were not quantified.
Top Five Spenders
The top five government spenders on emergency arts funding packages (out of the 54 countries I have found info for) are:
Austria (EUR 2 billion for arts and culture) (c. 8.9 million population; EUR 225 per capita)
Poland (EUR 900 million for arts and culture) (c.38 million population; EUR 24 per capita)
Japan (EUR 882.2 million, mostly for global demand creation and promotion of content) (c. 126.5 million population, EUR 7 per capita)
Netherlands (EUR 300 million for arts and culture) (c. 17.3 million population, EUR 17 per capita)
USA (EUR 282.9 million for arts and culture) (c. 328.2 million, EUR 0.86 per capita)
NOTES: This is for emergency funding - I am waiting for more countries to make announcements before I do a comparison. Germany is probably the top of this list, but they have included arts in an overall EUR 50 billion package for small businesses so I can't tell how much is going to the arts yet. Canada may also make it into the top five, but it is not clear how much of their EUR 328 million fund for culture, heritage and sport is going to arts/culture. If we include recovery spending, New Zealand is in the top five for funding calculated per capita.
MY ANALYSIS
Five types of good practice
I wrote an article analysing the international government responses to the impact of COVID-19 on the arts and cultural sector. In the article, I identified the following aspects of ‘good practice’ in governmental support for the arts and cultural industries:
Money (preferably lots, and with the possibility of more), targeted at the arts and creative industries across the supply and demand value chain (educators, independents, institutions, meditators, critics, curators, distributors, presenters…)
Support for the self-employed and freelancers.
Direct support without paperwork.
Digital and other programs which work with the current environment.
Support the public to access the arts and culture during lockdown.
What governments are doing (in brief)
First wave of economic stimulus (c. March): a lot of the government measures in the first wave of economic measures targeted small to medium businesses, including rent and tax relief, cash grants and low-cost loans
Second wave of economic stimulus (c. April): Governments then tended to offer support for the unemployed, including helping businesses to keep people employed at lower rates of pay. Many countries specifically extended social insurance schemes to artists and freelancers, recognising they often fall through the cracks of general economic measures.
Third wave of economic stimulus (c. April-May): Many governments also provided extra subsidies directly to arts and cultural organisations to prevent them from closing. Some governments also re-directed funding to provide individual artists with additional grant opportunities.
Access to culture during lockdown (c.March-ongoing): digital programs are popping up across a number of jurisdictions to support artists to create digital content. Countries like Egypt, Indonesia, Poland and Chile are also setting up digital aggregators of arts content so the public can still access cultural content during lockdown.
Shift to recovery (May-ongoing): Governments are also beginning to develop recovery packages and responses. This includes New Zealand’s NZ $175 million over three years to re-start the arts sector, and Germany’s EUR 1 billion (yes, billion) in ‘Neu Start’ for culture.
Reasons to support the creative industries
It’s worth remembering that the global creative industries contribute $2.25 trillion USD to the world economy annually - approx. 3% of world GDP - and 29.5 million jobs around the world.
The next wave of support will be vital for the arts and cultural sectors, given that in Australia, for example:
76% of artists are freelancers
Four in five artists take on non-arts related work to make ends meet
60% of creative industry businesses have no employees, whilst 39% have fewer than 20 employees
In Australia, creative industries comprise 6% of all businesses and employment, contribute $47.4 billion to national GDP, employ more than half a million people and generate $3.2 billion in export revenue.
Creative industries employment is growing faster than employment in the rest of the economy
Sources - BYP Group report on NSW creative industries; Throsby report on artists, reports from QUT, Creative Industries Innovation Centre and EY.
There is also the critical issue of mental health and wellbeing. Artists work in precarious environments with multiple stressors. By dint of being creative types, we so often take the world’s malaises and internalise them. Remember:
RUOK?
Call someone every day even if you don’t feel like it. Touch base.
Things always look better after a nap or a walk. Preferably both.
There are free government-supported mental health counselling. Even if you are physically alone, you are not alone in how you feel. We will make it together. Take care, keep going.
GOVERNMENT RESPONSES FOR THE ARTS AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
Argentina
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Digital Actions
In April 2020, the Ministry of Culture Argentina announced ARS $7.2 million for hiring nearly 500 artists to develop content for ‘Culture at Home’ through the digital platform Formar Cultura, which is a virtual community of practice.
Emergency Support
In April 2020, the Ministry of Culture Argentina has announced:
The Culture Points Program will have its budget increased from 17 to 50 million pesos
30 million pesos in emergency funds for cultural centres
The National Commission of Public Libraries will increase investment in the book program for the purchase of books. The funds earmarked for the Book Fair will be redirected to this.
The National Theatre Institute will allocate 96 million pesos for studios, plays and festivals
The National Arts Fund will boost the payment of scholarships, competitions, subsidies and loans with 22 million pesos, and launch a new call with funding of 75 million pesos
The National Institute of Music is extending the deadline for financial acquittals
The Infanto Juveniles Orchestras program will have 9.2 million pesos for new instruments
7.2 million pesos for hiring nearly 500 artists to develop content for ‘Culture at Home’ through the digital platform Formar Cultura, which is a virtual community of practice
Visit the website for more info.
Australia
Recovery Approaches
25 June, The Australian Prime Minister announced a $250 million support package for Australia’s art and cultural sectors. The new grants and loan programs will be rolled out over the next 12 months and includes:
Seed Investment to Reactivate Productions and Tours – $75 million in competitive grant funding in 2020- to help production and event businesses to put on new festivals, concerts, tours and events as social distancing restrictions ease, including innovative operating and digital delivery models. Grants will be available, from $75,000 through to $2 million.
Show Starter Loans – $90 million in concessional loans to fund new productions and events that stimulate job creation and economic activity.
Kick-starting Local Screen Production – $50 million for a Temporary Interruption Fund, to be administered by Screen Australia, that will support local film and television producers to secure finance and start filming again.
Supporting Sustainability of Sector-Significant Organisations – $35 million to provide direct financial assistance to support significant Commonwealth-funded arts and culture organisations facing threats to their viability due to COVID-19, which may include organisations in fields including theatre, dance, circus, music and other fields. The Government will partner with the Australia Council to deliver this funding.
Creative Economy Taskforce – establishment of a ministerial taskforce to partner with the Government and the Australia Council to implement the JobMaker plan for the creative economy
For further details and to read the media release click here
Digital Actions
On 24 April, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) announced a AUD $5 million “Fresh Start Fund” for development, and includes an Arts Digital Fund with a focus on documentary storytelling, and an Australian Music fund.
Emergency Support
In Australia, the Federal government has announced a $168 billion stimulus package. Here’s what is relevant to the arts and creative industries:
Businesses and NFPs with turnover under $50 million and that employ people can access $20,000-$100,000 to keep operating and keep staff. There is also support available to retain apprentices and trainees.
The Government is allowing businesses and not-for-profits impacted by the Coronavirus to access a subsidy to continue paying their employees. The JobKeeper payment allows affected employers to claim $1,500 a fortnight per eligible employee for a maximum period of six months. Creative and cultural businesses are eligible.
Government is increasing the threshold at which creditors can demand payment and offering temporary relief for directors from personal liability for trading while insolvent.
$1 billion to support regions, communities and industries severely affected by COVID-19, ‘including those heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education.’
From April 27 2020, sole traders, self-employed, contract and casual workers who meet the income tests as a result of the economic downturn due to COVID-19 can access Jobseeker Payment and Youth Allowance Jobseeker. This could also include a person required to care for someone affected by COVID-19. People on these payments will also receive an extra $550 per fortnight COVID-19 supplement, and two x one-off payments of $750. Asset testing for these payments and the Parenting Payment will be waived for the period of the COVID-19 supplement. The Liquid Asset test Waiting Period will also be waived for recipients eligible for the COVID-19 supplement.
Sole traders accessing Jobseeker Payment will automatically meet the usual requirements of the Payment by continuing to develop their business.
Individuals can also access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20 and a further $10,000 in 2020-21.
Increased instant asset write-off - individual assets threshold raised from $30,000 to $150,000.
Accelerated depreciation deductions for businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million can deduct 50% of the cost off an eligible asset on installation.
On 9 April the government also announced AUD $27 million for First Nations arts, regional arts and the music charity Support Art:
$10 million to Support Act
$10 million through the Regional Arts Australia’s Regional Arts Fund
$7 million through the Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support Program
The government has also brought forward AUD $5 million from its Regional and Small Publishers Innovation Fund to support public interest journalism during COVID-19. More organisations are eligible to apply and there is a greater emphasis on sustainability.
The Australia Council for the Arts has announced:
A “Resilience Fund" which is a repurposing all uncommitted funds from 2019-20 to immediately respond to the crisis, redirecting $5 million AUD to new programs designed to provide immediate relief for artists and organisations. The Fund has three streams:
Survive - small grants or individuals, groups and organisations to offset or recoup financial losses due to cancelled activity.
Adapt - grants for individuals, groups and organisations to adapt their practice and explore new operating models.
Create - grants for individuals, groups and organisations to continue to create artistic work and develop creative responses in a time of disruption
Relief on grant conditions including removing requirements for meeting audience KPIs, bringing forward payments, delaying or simplifying reporting requirements, varying the purposes and outcomes of funding, extending timelines for projects, and allowing organisations to use project money to be repurposed to cover core costs
proceeding with Four Year Funding 2021-24, identifying how to keep as many organisations as possible funded through this critical period (details end of March)
Suspending investment programs currently or due to open, so as to concentrate on responding to the crisis. Programs which will be suspended include Career Development Grants, Arts Projects Grants, Fellowships, Touring and Travel Funds, Rights Fund for Literature, Translation Fund for Literature
Launching “Creative Connections,” an online webinar series offering practical, accessible and useful professional development including crisis management and communication, arts in the digital age, ongoing issues of climate change, intercultural working with First Nations artists and inclusive learning practices
Continuing the Arts and Disability Mentorship Initiative
Weekly First Nations roundtables
Weekly COVID-19 support workshop with peak bodies
New Facebook group “Arts and Creative Industries: Digital Support”, primarily a professional development and distribution resource
Click here for more info about the Federal government initiatives.
Click here for more info about the Australia Council for the Arts responses.
Click here for more info about the $27 million funding.
Click here for info about the public interest journalism funding advance.
Click here to find out what is happening at the State and local government-level in Australia.
Austria
Recovery Approaches
From 15 May, places of presentation such as museums, galleries and exhibitions, libraries, libraries and archives including reading areas have been allowed to reopen. Drive-in cinemas can also reopen. Stages will be as follows:
29 May: events with up to 100 visitors
1 July: events with up to 250 visitors
1 August: events with up to 500 visitors should be possible
Each event will need its own "corona manager". If a special security approach is available, events with up to 1,000 visitors can also be allowed. These openings only apply to events with seats, which must be at least one metre apart.
Emergency Support
Specific measures have been adopted by the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture to cover the cultural sector:
Immediate aid may be granted to artists and cultural workers under the artists' social security fund. The COVID-19 fund has a maximum of 5 million euros and is intended to ensure rapid assistance. A total of up to 6,000 euros will be paid out - in the first phase up to 1,000 euros, in the second phase up to 2,000 euros per month for a maximum of three months;
The EUR 2 billion hardship fund (yes, 2 billion) has been set up as an emergency aid to all sole proprietorships, micro-enterprises (up to 9 employees), artists or newly self-employed people whose turnover has fallen as a result of the pandemic measures in the creative sector
Collecting societies have set up various programs for musicians, music labels, visual artists, filmmakers, audiovisual media, writers and translators, performers and producers of sound and video clips e.g. Collecting Societies of Music Austria has established EUR 2 million fund for creatives
In addition to state instruments to compensate artists for loss of income, there are private initiatives. To help artists in the current crisis, foundations have joined together to form the initiative "Foundations help artists."
The Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport has established a EUR 700 million fund for non-profit organisations.
The Ministry has also increased film subsidies by EUR 1.2 million, cinema subsidies by EUR 0.5 million, publishing industry subsidies by EUR 0.8 million, EUR 0.42 million to the Austrian Music Fund, EUR 0.25 million for art acquisitions
The City of Vienna now offers independent artists and independent scientists with their main place of residence in Vienna the opportunity to apply for one-off work grants up to a maximum of 3,000 euros. In this crisis situation, it should be possible to continue to pursue artistic and scientific activity (project development, reading, preparation of exhibitions and conferences, etc.);
Other indirect support measures exist for cultural institutions and artists: reduction and deferral of social security contributions, tax relief.
On 13 May, the government also announced a corona aid fund of EUR 700 million for NGOs, including from the sports, arts and culture sectors. The fund will cover fixed costs for two quarters (six months).
Belgium
Recovery Approaches
The Belgian government has announced a phased reopening:
11 May: Museums, libraries and bookstores re-opened; resumption of youth activities
8 June: Some cultural activities with audiences can resume
1 July: Performances with then public, including cinemas, can resume, always according to specific audience management rules – social distancing and max. 200 people, and avoid large gatherings
1 August: gatherings such as festivals can resume gradually, but major mass events will be banned until 31 August
Digital Actions
Culture at home is an online portal supported by the Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles Ministry of Culture. It provides links to offerings from cinemas, lectures, performing arts, museums and other initiatives.
Emergency Support
Belgium announced:
Financial benefits are available to self-employed people and their spouses. Monthly benefit is 1,291.69 euros per month without family expenses and 1,614.10 euros with family expenses
The Flemish government has announced:
a one-off premium of EUR 4,000 for entrepreneurs who have had to close their location
additional premium of EUR 160 per mandatory closing day beyond 5/4/20
compensation premium of EUR 3,000 (up to 5 premiums) for companies who are allowed to continue working but have experienced a 60% turnover decrease between 15/3 and 30/4
bridging loans and medium-term loans, postponement of loan payments
extension of grant deadlines
The Wallonia-Bruxelles Finance minister set up a EUR 50 million fund on 19 March to help culture, early childhood, sport, youth, education and university hospitals. Most of this first emergency fund will go to culture and early childhood. This fund will come to the rescue of cultural and associative activities that cannot take place because of the confinement, but for which the remuneration of artists and entertainment professionals must nevertheless be ensured. An online platform will be launched on 6 April in order to gather all the information and procedures to get some support.
On Tuesday 7 April, the Belgian government approved the proposition of the Ministry of Culture to dedicate over EUR 8.4 million for the support of cultural actors that have been impacted by the cancellation of activities and closure of venues. You can find the press release here on the website of Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.
Burkina Faso
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
The Minister of Culture, Arts and Tourism announced the creation of a 1.25 billion CFA francs (US$ 2.1 million) fund, for the benefit of cultural actors, stressing that, in addition to this sectoral measure, cross-cutting economic measures relating to the economy as a whole have been taken by the President, providing for support for other sectors that have suffered harm as a result of COVID-19, including tourism.
Canada
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Digital Actions
The Canada Council established the Digital Strategy Fund for grants of up to CA$50,000 for short-term activities. From April to 31 July, artists, groups and organisations can submit proposals that will:
· implement digital solutions as a strategic response to the COVID-19 crisis
· demonstrate concrete and immediate benefits to the arts community
· show elements of openness and potential for growth as a long-term strategy
On 21 April, CBC/Radio-Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts announced the creation of Digital Originals, a new time-limited funding initiative to help artists, groups and arts organizations pivot their work for online audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund offers CA $5,000 micro innovation grants.
The funding will directly benefit creators of original digital content. The Canada Council is providing CA $1 million in funding to successful applicants to develop, create and share original or adapted works with Canadian audiences online.
CBC/Radio-Canada will showcase and amplify the discoverability of select projects on one or more of its platforms. Selected projects for the curated CBC-Radio/Canada showcase will receive a supplemental amount of $1000. With the sponsorship of the RBC Foundation, as part of their ongoing activities to support youth in Canada, $150,000 in Digital Originals funding is available for new and early career artists.
Emergency Support
On 17 April, the Canadian government announced a further CA $1.7 billion in targeted measures for the economy, including CA $500 million to establish a COVID-19 Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organisations. In Phase 1, the Canada Council will distribute CA$55 million to eligible arts organisations experiencing a significant financial impact as a result of the pandemic.
On 30 March, the Canada Council for the Arts announced CA $60 million in advance funding, equivalent to 35% of annual grants held by over 1,100 core funded organisations.
By 4 May, the Council will issue advances enabling core funded organizations to: meet their immediate commitments, help ensure cash flow and address outstanding payments to the artists and cultural workers they employ.
The Canada Council is also:
Suspending funding for public events and travel-related activities
Allowing grantees to postpone events / travel or move events online
Apply grant funding to eligible expenses, including modifying, postponing or cancelling an activity
Core funded organisations will not be required too have replacement programming for events or activities
No penalties for not meeting current reporting deadlines
Extending some deadlines and continuing to run grant assessments
Relaxing repayment of grant rules:
For grants $5,000 and under
If the unused amount is more than 15% or $500 (whichever is greater), the recipient must repay the unused amount.
For grants between $5,000 and $30,000
If the unused amount is more than $1,000, the recipient must repay the unused amount.
For grants between $30,000 and $75,000
If the unused amount is more than $2,000, the recipient must repay the unused amount.
For grants above $75,000
If the unused amount is more than $3,000, the recipient must repay the unused amount.
The National Arts Centre with Facebook and Slaight Music has set up the Facebook-National Arts Centre Fund for Performing Artists, allocating $200,000 in artist fees to support live performances. The fund pays $1,000 to each act for their live-streams performances. #CanadaPerforms
Typically, self-employed people may not have access to employment insurance or sick leave. The Canada Revenue Agency will provide:
Emergency Care Benefit for workers and parents without paid sick leave. People who are not eligible for Employment Insurance and can’t access sick leave can also receive up to $900 every fortnight for 15 weeks if they are off work to take care of others.
$5 billion for an Emergency Support Benefit to workers who are not eligible for Employment Insurance and have lost their jobs or have reduced hours because of COVID-19. This includes artists and cultural workers. People can apply in April though the CRA website. It refers to a GST-credit payment of $400 to individuals and about $600 for couples; an increase in the Canada Child Benefit of $300 per child; and a 10% wage subsidy for small businesses for 3 months, up to $2,000 per employer.
Small businesses can receive a temporary wage subsidy for three months, equal to 10% of remuneration for that period, up to a cap of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer. Businesses can access this immediately by reducing their income tax remittances.
Click here for more info about Canadian government initiatives.
Click here for more info about the Canada Council’s response.
Click here for more info about the National Arts Centre Facebook initiative.
Chile
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Digital Actions
The Chilean government supports the online culture portal, Elige_Cultura. The website aggregates links to cultural offerings from across artforms, including museums, cinema, literature, visual arts, performing arts and music.
The Ministry of Culture is also offering a range of online capacity-building workshops for the cultural sector.The Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage has allocated CLP $15 billion to support copyright payments, promote artistic creation, and protect cultural spaces and organisations affected by the pandemic. The funds are from a repurposing of existing programs and instruments.
Emergency Support
The Ministry is also continuing to pay 2020 Culture Funds and is suspending Open Windows so artists do not incur expenses on activities that cannot be carried out. Once the pandemic crisis is over, these calls will be replaced. The Ministry is also working on specific measures for the regions and running a survey of the sector.
Colombia
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Digital Actions
The Ministry of Culture has launched the #CulturaDigital strategy and allocated COP $24 million to the call for ‘share what we are’. The Ministry is also creating a national registry of artists.
The digital strategy includes access the free films, children’s content, museums online, theater, dance, arts, science and literature. #CulturaDigital and #QuédateEnCasa
Emergency Support
The Colombian Ministry of Culture has announced:
COP $80 billion for social security for older artists and cultural managers through the Periodic Economic Benefits Scheme
COP $40 billion for creation, virtual training, production and circulation of public performances of the performing arts, face-to-face or virtual, for the next 18 months
Extension of deadlines for taxes and fees and funded events
On 31 March the Minister of Culture also announced a new mechanism to assist artists and managers who are not eligible for other government social programs. They will receive a grant of COP $160,000.
The government has also implemented a fiscal incentive to leverage COP $30 billion in investments and donations for creative economy projects, including arts and heritage, and has established tax benefits and exemptions for artistic and cultural organisations.
Croatia
Recovery Approaches
The Second Package of measures announced in May aims to encourage and restart cultural life and promote the production and distribution of cultural and artistic content:
On 28 May, the Ministry launched Entrepreneurship in Cultural and Creative Industries which focuses on adapting business models and covers the fields of performing arts, literature, publishing and book activities, visual arts and audiovisual activities. The total amount of funds allocated for this program is 8 million Kuna
Additional funds will be provided for co-financing films
The Ministry of Culture is in the process of adopting a State Aid Program to support entrepreneurs in culture and creative industries and facilitate access to finance for small and medium enterprises
The Ministry of Culture will consult with the organisers of events and festivals, as well of other beneficiaries of support in order to approve new programs and budgets
Support to the performing arts and cinema industry who have been unable to launch activities due to restrictions is under discussion
Digital Actions
18 May, as part of the second package, the Ministry published the call Art and Culture Online, with a total grant of 25 million Kuna to finance the preparation and implementation of online artistic and cultural activities.
Please click here for more info (In Croatian)
Emergency Support
In March, the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia adopted measures to minimise the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and to protect cultural values. The Croatian Ministry of Culture has established a Crisis Fund (EUR 6.3 million) which will include funds for cultural workers whose projects have been delayed. Those who have lost their work due to the crisis will be given grants up HRK 1,625-3,250 for a period of three months from 1 April.
The First Package, adopted during the suspension of all cultural activities includes:
The postponement of contracted programs and conditions of payment for approved programs
Measures for job preservation
A public call to support professional artists who perform independent artistic activity and whose contributions are paid from the budget of the Republic of Croatia
A special fund for independent professionals who do not have a regulated status
The Croatian government is also supporting entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries, and self-employed artists, through the Croatian Employment Service. Small and micro loans for entrepreneurs and special support programs for sole traders are also being developed.
Please click here for more info. And if anyone can read this language, please correct me - I was using Google Translate!
Cuba
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Digital Actions
The Cuban Institute of Music (Instituto Cubano de la Música), in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television, promoted online concerts via social networks as well as radio and television. The virtual concerts started on March 15 and continued throughout May. They included performances by a range of musicians in support of the national campaign #EstamosContigo#MusicosPorCuba to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Emergency Support
On 6 April the Ministry of Culture announced that artists who are part of the Cuban Institute of Music and the National Council of Performing Arts will receive salary support. The salary coverage begins in April, to be paid in May ,and will be effective through the usual payment mechanisms.
Cyprus
Recovery Approaches
As of 9 June, Cyprus entered phase three of the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions. Attendance at cinemas, theatres, indoor performances, mass and other events such as festivals, remain banned whereas the operations of services such as restaurants, cultural clubs and associations are permissible but subject to the guidelines offered by the Ministry of health. For specific details click here.
Emergency Support
On 7 April, the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth announced:
subsidies for salaries in cultural organisations whose work has reduced by at least 25%
suspension of loan payments
advance payments of cultural grants for activity to be undertaken in Q1 2021
expenses already incurred for cancelled events will be covered where appropriate
EUR 1.045 million allocated to the four Literary and Artistic Houses, the two Dance Houses and the Rialto Theatre
requests will be considered for damages incurred during filming/pre-production
increasing by 50% the amount provided for the Purchase of Art Works for the State Collection
Financially enhancing the cinematic projection of European producers
Encouraging and promoting online film and AV activity in short films, documentary and animation
Looking at how to support theatre professionals
Czech Republic
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
The Ministry of Culture has established:
a EUR 16.1 million support fund for those in the all-year subsidy groups of dance, theatre, music, visual arts and small publishers.
EUR 1.1 million call for multimedia platform projects in experimental forms
EUR 10.1 million for arts organisations, museums and galleries
The City of Prague has also announced:
EUR 9.2 million special subsidy for theatres and other cultural institutions
EUR 3.7 million campaign to attract local tourists
Denmark
Recovery Approaches
Denmark’s cultural life will reopen in stages (Phase 1 related to schools reopening).
Phase 2
11 May Resumptions include lending at libraries, artistic programs such as music exams that require a physical presence, professional sports, outdoor sports and associations, visits to zoos by car, art centres, museums, theatres and cinema’s
May 27 Openings include music and cultural schools, colleges and evening schools, summer activities for children and young people
Phase 3
8 June Openings include Indoor sports and associations, swimming pools, training centres
Phase 4 , beginning of August
Resumptions include those parts of the artistic education that were not opened in phase two, venues, additional indoor sports and leisure activities
Bans on events and activities of more than 500 people will continue until at least 31 August
For further details click here (In Danish)
New Laws and Regulations
For information on new laws and regulations that have resulted from COVID 19 click here (In Danish)
Cultural assistance for Senior Citizens
10 Million DKK has been made available to provide cultural assistance to the elderly affected by COVID 19. Initiatives such as collaborations between cultural and social actors with nursing homes and municipalities will be considered. Further details are available from the Danish Ministry of Culture (in Danish).
Emergency Support
On 18 April the Danish government announced an emergency pool of DKK 200 million for distressed public-oriented cultural institutions and seasonal performing arts companies which fall through other relief packages. The fund is for institutions with operating grants from the Ministry of Culture and can cover:
up to 80% of production costs for performances and exhibitions etc
these institutions can be further compensated if they are particularly distressed, to prevent otherwise well-run institutions to go bankrupt. The compensation may not exceed 80% of lost revenue
municipal cultural institutions with Ministry of Culture operating grants and six larger municipal venues can receive salary compensation and compensation for fixed expenses
distressed performance events etc which are not covered by the general event pool can be compensated for up to 80% of expenses from 9 March to 31 August.
The Danish government has previously announced:
Compensation for companies’ fixed costs
Compensation for self-employed persons who experience more than 30% decrease in revenue as a result of COVID-19. The government will provide 75% of the loss of revenue, up to a maximum of DKK 23,000 per month, for three months. The compensation may amount to DKK 34,500 per person per month if the self-employed person employs their spouse. This is targeted at sole traders and companies employing fewer than 10 employees.
Support for private companies to keep workers on furlough
Compensation if you had to cancel an event from 6-30 March for more than 1,000 people (or 500 people if the event was targeting COVID-19 high risk groups)
Temporary deferral of tax payments
On 6 April the Danish government also announced a temporary art support scheme for artists with ‘A and B income’ and taxable profits from self-employment of at least DKK 8,333 monthly on average. The scheme is estimated to cost DKK 100 million kr. Artists can apply who:
have a total A and B income and taxable profits from independent artistic activities of between DKK100,000-800,000 annually, corresponding to DKK 8,333-66,667 monthly on average in one out of the past three years, based on annual reports from 2017 ,2018 and 2019.
expect a loss in A and B income and taxable profits from self-employment from the artistic activity of at least 30%. 75% can be covered of the expected loss to a maximum of DKK 23,000 per month
In a press release 15 May, ( in Danish) it was announced that the government would extend aid packages to the temporary art support scheme for artists for an extra month until July 8, 2020.
For more information click here. And correct me if you know Danish - this is courtesy of Google Translate.
Click here for info about the art support scheme and click here for information about the 200 million kroner emergency pool.
England
Recovery Approaches
The Covid-19 recovery strategy is as follows:
Step one, 11 May: Those who cannot work from home will be encouraged back to their workplaces, exercise will be unlimited, sports may be played with household members, able to drive to other destinations.
Step 2, 1 June: People may leave their house for any reason, up to six people may meet outside, some schools will resume, shops subject to closure will reopen on 15 June.
Step 3, at the earliest from 4 July: The government hopes that some parts of the hospitality industry and other ‘public places’ will be able to reopen ‘provided they are safe and enforce social distancing’.
Digital Actions
BBC Arts with Arts Council England has launched a new commissioning strand “Culture in Quarantine Fund,” which will support England-based artists of any discipline to produce new works in creative media – video, audio and interactive – in spring 2020. Grants will be in the range of £3,000-8,000 (ex VAT).
The Arts Council already has a program called the “Digital Culture Network,” which employs “Tech Champions,” who can help artists and organisations to develop their digital skills.
Emergency Support
The UK government is offering:
Cash grants up to 25,000 pounds for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses through the Retail and Hospitality Grant Scheme
Taxable grants of 80% of profits for a self-employed person or member of a partnership who has suffered a loss of income from COVID-19, up to a cap of 2,500 pounds per month. The Coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme is open to those with a trading profit of less than 50,000 pounds and with a full year of accounts.
‘Business rates holiday’ for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in 2020-21.
For businesses that are too small to pay much in the way of business rates anyway, the government will provide Small Business Grant Scheme funding for local authorities, which will provide one-off grants of 10,000 pounds to eligible businesses to meet ongoing costs.
Temporary tax relief for self-employed people and businesses, including deferral of VAT and income tax payments for the self-employed until January 2021.
Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, to support small and medium-sized businesses to access loans and overdrafts. Government will provide an 80% guarantee on each loan and the Scheme will support loans of up to 5 million pounds first 12 months interest free.
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to provide up to 80% of furloughed workers wage costs, up to a cap of 2,500 pounds per month.
Statutory Sick Pay refund for up to two-weeks of employees’ sick pay for businesses with fewer than 250 employees.
Access to Universal Credit (income support), suspending the minimum income floor restriction and removing requirement to go to a job centre
Access to Employment and Support Allowance (if you have a health condition which prevents you from working), if you have paid National Insurance contributions over last 2-3 years
In the next wave of emergency funding, Arts Council England announced 160 million pounds in an emergency funding package which includes:
90 million pounds available to national portfolio organisations and creative people and places consortia
50 million pounds for organisations which are not regularly funded but have a track record in receiving public funding, with the aim of addressing cashflow challenges and commissioning work now, to be available to people during the crisis, thus supporting artists as well. Disabled-led organisations will be prioritised, as will organisations’ capacity to deliver “Let’s Create” after the crisis, which includes consideration of whether the organisation is diverse-led.
20 million pounds for individuals who are creative practitioners in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, literature, combined arts and museums practice fields (magicians and comedians can apply if they have a track record of receiving public funding); 4 million pounds of this will be grants for benevolent funds targeted at other cultural workers. This is based on the calculation that in place of a single 10,000 pound grant from the “Developing Your Creative Practice” fund, ACE could invest 2,500 pounds in four different artists, helping them through the crisis. There is a higher application ceiling (3,000 pounds) for disabled and D/deaf applicants to factor in additional support needs
The Arts Council is also:
Relaxing grant funding conditions.
Offering to advance six months of grant payments to national portfolio organisations and postpone the next national portfolio investment process, so that the current suite of organisations will roll over to 31 March 2023
Producing guidance in BSL, Large Print and Easyread, and running two rounds so anyone who needs more time can have it
Click here for more info about Arts Council England’s emergency package.
Click here for more info about the UK government economic response.
Click here for more info about the BBC Arts Culture in Quarantine program.
Estonia
Recovery Approaches
Conditions for organising events eased as early as June (in Estonian, 29 May)
1 June, the number of people allowed to attend public indoor events will increase from 50 to 100. The 2+2 and other requirements remain the same.
1 June to 30 June, Outdoor sports competitions may resume with a total of 100 participants. The organiser must ensure that disinfectants are available.
Emergency Support
The Estonian Ministry of Culture has announced an initial EUR 3 million to partially compensate for the direct costs and income lost due to the cancellation of cultural and sporting events and activities, which it increased to EUR 10.1 million. The Ministry of Culture is working with the Cultural Endowment and will launch this measure as soon as possible.
On 22 April, a temporary amendment to the Creative Persons and Creative Societies Act was passed, which aims to support creative practitioners who have lost their income. A minimum wage is guaranteed for six months and is available to freelance creative practitioners who are creators as defined in the Creative Industries Act and whose main source of income is professional creative activity in the fields of architecture, audiovisual, design, performing arts, sound, literature, visual arts. The Ministry of Culture applied for an additional EUR 4.2 million to cover this expansion of the Act to a total of approx. 1,200 people who work in creative fields and have been disrupted by the pandemic.
Easing of restrictions include:
allowing someone who has already accessed support in the last two years to receive benefits
the requirements for income earned in the previous month has been amended
creative practitioners who do not belong to a recognised creative union, but who met the requirements of the Act, can apply for a creative grant from the Ministry of Culture
creative practitioners can continue to earn additional income while receiving the grant
These measures are part of a larger government package of EUR 2 billion in stimulus measures. For more information, visit the Estonian Ministry of Culture (in Estonian, dated 25 March).
Finland
Recovery Approaches
On 11 June, the Government announced that partial border control will continue at internal borders while external border traffic will continue to be restricted until 14 July 2020.
15 June, 14 day self-isolation is recommended for all those arriving in Finland from countries that are still subject to internal or external border control.
For further information click here (in Finnish)
The Finish government website lists the following information in regard to re-opening of cultural facilities;
Museums, theaters, the National Opera, houses of culture, libraries, hobby facilities and venues, as well as youth and club facilities can be opened from the beginning of June.
Concerts, theater performances, festivals and other cultural events are public events. They must take into account the current maximum number of participants of 50 or, by special arrangements, 500.
Public events of more than 500 people are prohibited until 31 July. For outdoor events with several auditoriums or demarcated areas for the public, it is possible to hold events for more than 500 people
Emergency Support
The government has established a fund for professionals in arts and culture of EUR 19 million., EUR 3.2 million for institutions, EUR 18 million for theatres, orchestras and museums, and EUR 1.3 million for the Governing Body of the Suomenlinna and the Finnish Heritage Agency.
The Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Finnish Centre for Art Promotion will jointly provide rapid support to arts and cultural professionals in distress due to COVID-19.
Approximately 1.5 million euros will be distributed through the Arts Promotion Centre (Taike) in April. This money will come from both government and four foundations:
The Ministry of Education and Culture will give Taike additional funding of EUR 500,000.
Taike has previously announced that it will transfer about EUR 100,000 to alleviate the COVID-19 crisis.
The Finnish Cultural Foundation will give EUR 500,000.
4 other foundations will give EUR 100,000 each.
The grant application round will open at the start of April, and grant decisions made by the end of the month. Primarily the aid is intended as short-term grants for freelance artists whose work has been significantly hampered.
Taike is expected to disburse 500 grants.
The Kone Foundation is offering a three-month work grant for artists residencies which take place in the artist’s home. It includes a monthly grant and an online work platform to share ideas. The size of the monthly grant varies according to the applicant’s experience: €2,400 (early career), €2,800 (mid-career), €3,500 (experienced artist).
The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes network has announced a new grant program “Together Alone - Open Call”. The Institutes are seeking artistic proposals related to the following themes: state of emergency, radical change, resilience, artistic practice in the future, alone together. At the same time the project will act as a documentation of the crisis, and one of the major social upheavals of our time and give the artists an opportunity to reflect it through the arts. The application is open to all Finnish and Finland-based professional artists who have lost work opportunities due to the corona epidemic.
The Institutes are commissioning projects from selected artists or artistic groups to be completed by June 30, 2020. The total grant of an individual project is between EUR 1500–5000.
The aim of the open call is to ensure the livelihoods of artists, and the continuity of international collaboration. Although mobility and physical encounters must now be restricted, we want to support the international networks and cooperation.
France
Recovery Approaches
On 6 May the French Minister for Culture detailed measures to support the resumption of cultural life (in French)
11 May, bookshops, record stores, libraries, media libraries and art galleries may reopen, along with certain museums and historic monuments
The rights of artists and intermittent performing technicians, who have been sanctuarized for three months, will be extended by one year until the end of August 2021
A guarantee fund of EUR 50 million will be allocated for the filming of cinematographic and audio-visual productions, to compensate producers for “Covid-19 risks”
An endowment of EUR 50 million has been allocated to the National Music Centre to support the entire music industry.
AVMS (audio-visual media services) and copyright directives will be transposed into French law before the end of the year to better protect, from January 1, 2021, audio-visual companies within the cultural sovereignty framework
A global public order plan will be launched in each cultural area
The artistic presence will be reinforced via cultural education and there will be a launch of a new initiative, "A learning summer", in July and August 2020.
Resumption of Activity in the Cultural sector
14 May, Ministry of Culture ( in French) announced that, while guides for the cinema and artistic creation sectors are being finalised:
Museums and monuments may reopen as they are not likely to encourage significant displacement of the population
Theatres and cinemas will remain closed. Likewise, festivals and cultural events bringing together more than 5,000 people cannot be held until August 31.
Specific details in regard to health and safety details will be posted here (in French) as they become available.
Emergency Support
France has announced 45 billion euros in overall action, which includes:
unemployment benefits for people forced to work part-time
a ‘solidarity fund’ of 2 billion euros to help shopkeepers and the self-employed
Paying small and medium businesses to keep workers on furlough
Bank loan guarantees for businesses and tax deferrals
For the cultural sector, on 18 March the Ministry of Culture announced an emergency fund which will include in its first phase EUR 22 million, which includes EUR 10 million for music, EUR 5 million for entertainment, EUR 5 million for literature and EUR 2 million for visual arts.
The Ministry will:
count the period that contract-based cultural workers are unable to work as part of the reference period which gives entitlement to unemployment insurance
pay unemployment insurance benefits for contract-based cultural workers even if their entitlement was set to end during the current period
On 27 March the Ministry also announced additional measures for artists to receive an individual support grant of up to EUR 1,500.
In France there are a number of agencies which oversee specific sectors, including specific sector taxes.
The National Music Centre has:
established an 11.5 million euro emergency fund for the entertainment industry, particularly small and medium enterprises. Each grant, capped at € 11,500, includes an incentive to pay artists compensation for canceled shows.
suspended the payment of ‘show tax’
The National Centre for Cinema and Animated Image:
suspended the entry tax in cinemas for March 2020
is providing financial aid to art house infrastructure and softening criteria for accessing aid
Grants already awarded for cancelled events will be paid and not required to be paid back
The performing arts sector outside music has had up to 5 million euros allocated for emergency aid.
The National Book Centre is implementing:
an emergency plan with a first envelope of 5 million euros to respond to the immediate challenges of publishers, authors and booksellers: 1 million euros for direct social aid to book authors, 0.5 million euros to French-language bookshops abroad; 0.5 million euros for the most fragile independent publishing houses; and intervention fund to compensate for operating losses of bookshops.
subsidies already paid to book events cancelled because of the pandemic will not be required to be repaid, with particular attention to payment of authors who would have appeared at the events.
the Centre is also postponing the maturities of loans granted to booksellers and publishers.
The National Centre for Plastic Arts has:
an initial 2 million euro fund for art galleries
expanded eligibility for gallery grants
support allocated to galleries to attend postponed fairs will not have to be repaid
The Minister of Culture and the Minister of Labour are working on specific measures for freelance performers and technicians and creators.
At the regions level, governments are planning to support canceled events up to the amount of costs incurred. For example:
the Ile-de France region has announced an emergency aid fund of 10 million euros for the performing arts
The New Aquitaine region has committed to the national fund and also reserved 5 million euros for associations in the form of direct grants in culture, sport and the social sector
The Pays de la Loire region has announced an emergency plan of 50 million euros for businesses in the cultural, sports and community sectors (25 million euros of immediately available loans through existing mechanisms, and 25 million euros of new measures and loans, including 2 million in support of cultural and sports associations, which can be leveraged to grant 325 million euros in loans in the Loire region).
This also includes a 6 million euros in cash subsidy for artisans, traders, restaurateurs, very small businesses and social enterprises
Rebond loan for SMEs of zero-interest of 10,000-300,000 euros
Postponement of repayable advances granted by the regional government due for the next 6 months
loan guarantee scheme increased to 80% (from 70%) aimed at very small businesses and SMEs
unsecured cash loans of 50,000-500,000 euros at a TEG rate of 2.03%
Emergency Events Fund aimed at all associations organising cultural and sport events hard hit by cancellations / drop in attendances due to the pandemic, with a grant ceiling of 30,000 euros.
For more info click here about the general economic package.
Click here for more info about the French Ministry of Culture announcements and feel free to correct me as I used Google Translate on this.
Click here for info about the National Music Centre fund.
Germany
Recovery Approaches
The reopening pf public life and social distancing
6 May, specific details on the federal and state governments restrictions on public life and social distancing can be found here. In general, social distancing and hygiene rules still apply and certain institutions such as schools will gradually open. The federal states will need to determine schedules for the reopening of theaters, operas, concert halls and cinemas.
To watch a video of Chancellor Angela Merkel discussing steps to ease the coronavirus lockdown click here.
NEU START
In a press release (in German) on 4 June, the German government announced that around one billion euros would be made available to the cultural sector via the Neu Start initiative. This funding will cover 2020 and 2021. The Neu Start program is divided into four parts:
Pandemic-related investments in cultural institutions of up to 250 million euros, to make cultural institutions such as cultural centers, music clubs, theaters, cinemas, trade fairs, literary houses fit for the reopening. This includes measures such as the implementation of hygiene concepts and distance rules, online ticketing systems, the modernization of ventilation systems, different visitor guidance and seating, installation of protective devices, optimization of visitor control, public safety instructions,procurement of cleaning and infection protection equipment, measures to expand IT infrastructure, technical and other equipment
Maintenance and strengthening of the cultural infrastructure and emergency aid. This is the largest component of the program with a total of up to 450 million euros. Its purpose is to aid small and medium sized cultural sites and projects who have lost revenue but still have to pay staff. This part of the project also focuses on placing new orders with freelancers and solo professionals.
Promotion of alternative, also digital, offers. See Digital Actions below.
Pandemic-related additional needs of up to to 100 million to compensate for corona-related loss of income and additional expenditure that cannot be covered in any other way. The package also provides for federal aid of 20 million euros for private radio broadcasters.
For a direct link to the Neu Start website click here.
Digital Actions
EUR 150 million in ‘New Start Culture’ funding (see above) will be made available to alternative and digital projects that serve to convey, network and communicate in the cultural field.
For further info click here.
Emergency Support
Germany has announced a huge 750 billion euros in stimulus, which includes EUR 50 billion euros for the cultural, creative and media sector, including freelancers and small businesses, including artists and caregivers. They are eligible for up to 15,000 euros in direct subsidies over a period of three months. They should be able to apply quickly and with little bureaucratic effort for subsidies to secure their professional or business existence.
At the State level:
The State of Berlin is providing short-term budget funds to mitigate the worst hardships for self-employed persons and small businesses in the private cultural sector, freelance and solo artists and cultural workers, honorary staff, small art associations and self-employed event organizers.
The State of north Rhine-Westphalia is offering EUR 5 million in emergency aid for artists.
The State of Hamburg: EUR 25 million for cultural institutions and EUR 50 million stimulation package by the Hamburg bank for cultural businesses
Municipality of Cologne: EUR 3 million emergency fund for ‘free culture’
Hong Kong
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
Hong Kong has announced:
$1,200 cash subsidy to all adult permanent residents
cutting payroll, income, property and business taxes
low-interest, government-guaranteed loans for businesses
The Hong Kong Arts Development Council has also launched the HKD $55 million “Support Scheme for Arts & Cultural Sector” to support small and medium organisations and arts practitioners whose activities and work were cancelled or impacted in 2019-20. Under the Scheme:
Grant recipients of HKADC’s 2019-20 Year Grant, Literary Arts Platform Project and Eminent Arts Group Scheme can each apply for up to $130,000
Projects funded by HKADC through the Project Grant (non-publication) and Matching Fund Schemes will receive a direct subsidy of $15,000 and can apply for up to $15,000 further
Projects funded under the Project Grant (publication) stream will receive a direct subsidy of $3,000 and can apply for up to $3,000 further
Projects funded by HKADC under the Cultural Exchange Scheme, and commissioned projects will receive a direct subsidy of $15,000
Arts projects not funded by HKADC may receive a subsidy of $15,000 by application
Individual art practitioners may receive a maximum of $7,500 by application
HKADC extended the scheme for two more months, originally from 29 January to 30 April now extended to 30 June.
Indonesia
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
On 11 May, the Yogyakarta regional government received permission from the central government to use the ‘Privileged Fund’ (Danais) to deal with COVID-19, including a fund of RP 600,000 per month to artists and cultural workers affected by the pandemic.
Ireland
Recovery Approaches
16 June, the government announced EUR 25 million recovery package to support the arts and culture sector recover from the COVID-19 emergency. The funding will include bursaries and commissions to artists and arts organisations, and resources for museums and culture workers as they prepare for the reopening of society.
A total of EUR 20 million will be allocated to the Arts Council bringing its allocation this year to EUR 100 million.
Priority areas for the extra funding include averting the closure of key organisations, expanded commissioning schemes for individual artists and arts organisations across all art forms, and expanded bursary schemes, open to artists and groups of artists to develop their professional practice.
Separately, EUR 5 million has been set aside for measures including securing the future of key cultural and museum spaces and the production of high-quality digital art and online performances.
18 May, The Arts Council of Ireland announced the publication of guidelines for reopening of arts centres:
Phase 2: 8 June Phased return of workers
Phase 3: 29 June Return to organisations of employees who have low levels of daily interaction and where social - distancing can be maintained.
Phase 4: 20 July Return to organisations of employees who cannot work remotely. The re-opening of museums, galleries, and other cultural outlets - where people are non-stationary and social distancing can be maintained.
Phase 5: 10 August Resumption of 'Higher risk' organisations which by their nature cannot easily maintain social distancing. Plans are to be implemented on how they may progress towards onsite return of full staff . This will include the re-opening of theatres and cinemas where social distancing can be maintained.
The Irish government have a dedicated COVID-19 information page for further information, advice and guidelines which isupdated daily.
Digital Actions
3 April, Ireland and Culture Ireland will match funding of €100k support with Facebook Ireland for the online showcasing of artists’ work.
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltach is partnering with RTÉ, TG4 and others to bring a broad range of cultural, heritage and language content to the public from archive as well as new sources in partnership with organisations such as Druid and Other Voices.
Emergency Support
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is offering a COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment for people who have lost work due to a downturn in economic activity caused by the crisis. This delivers income support to the unemployed, including self-employed people, for six-weeks. During this period, you can apply for a full Jobseekers payment and receive any additional entitlements backdated.
Those diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have to self-isolate can apply for the Illness Benefit for COVID-19 absences paid at 305 euros per week. This is available to employees and the self-employed.
On 3 April the Arts Council Ireland launched a EUR 1 million fund ‘Arts Council COVID-19 Crisis Response Award,’ to support the creation of new artistic work and its dissemination online for the public benefit.
The Arts Council is also creating a new digital platform so people can experience artworks in their own homes
The fund will be made up of 50% from the Arts Council’s existing budgets, and 50% from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
Successful applicants will be awarded EUR 3,000.
Other initiatives include:
Department through Culture Ireland match funding EUR 100,000 support with Facebook Ireland for the online showcasing of artists’ work
Partnering with RTE, TG4 and others to bring cultural content to the public from the archive and new sources in partnership with organisations such as Druid and Other Voices
Abbey Theatre commissioning writing and performance of 50 new monologues during April
a new Creative Ireland partnership with Healthy Ireland to promote wellbeing and creativity, including sharing of new Design & Crafts Council Ireland online resources to engage young people and adults in home-based making activities
TG4 to partner with Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for a reimagined Fleadh Ceoil and TG4 Molscéal to showcase language-based Arts and stories from Gaeltacht communities in collaboration with Ealaín na Gaeltachta, TechSpace and others
The Arts Council has also previously said that:
It will honour all funding commitments and allow grantees to draw down 90% of their funding to allow them to fulfil their commitments, especially contracts with artists.
There will be no penalties for grantees who cannot deliver key activities because of COVID-19.
Click here for more info about the COVID-19 unemployment benefits.
Click here for info on the new Crisis Response Award.
Click here for more info about Arts Council of Ireland’s response.
Italy
Recovery Approaches
Phase 2
As at 1 June, the Italian government website lists the following guidelines in regard to the resumption of cultural activities:
Shows at theatres, concert halls, cinemas and other open spaces will remain suspended until 14 June 2020. From 15 June 2020, these shows will be held with pre-assigned and spaced seats and compliance with the interpersonal distance of at least one meter with a maximum number of 1000 of spectators for outdoor performances and 200 people for shows indoors.
Activities that take place in dance halls and discos and similar establishments, outdoors or indoors, fairs and conferences remain suspended.
Click here for further information (in Italian)
Emergency Support
Italy has announced EUR 25 billion in stimulus including:
bank loan guarantees for small and medium businesses
tax deferrals
one-off payments to self-employed people
For the cultural sector:
EUR 130 million in 2020 in the Live Show, Cinema and AV Emergency Fund for the support of cultural workers. The Minister for Culture and Tourism will determine how to allocate the fund
Refunds with vouchers for tickets to shows, cinemas, theatres and other cultural venues and hotels
Workers in tourism, culture, entertainment, film and AV sectors can access extraordinary allowances
Social safety nets are extended to seasonal workers in tourism and entertainment and interventions in favour of authors, artists, performers and agents
Suspension of withholding tax payments, social security and welfare contributions and compulsory insurance premiums for those who manage or organise venues, cinemas, museums, arts events, libraries, archives, historical monuments, bars, restaurants, spas, amusement or theme parks, transport services, rental of sports and recreational equipment or structures and equipment for events and shows, guides and tourist assistants
A campaign to relaunch ‘the image of Italy in the world’ for cultural and tourism purposes
Click here for more info about general actions.
Click here for info about cultural sector actions.
Ivory Coast
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
The government has granted aid of CFAF 500 million to artists who are members of the Ivorian copyright bureau (BURIDA). As this is a distribution of rights, not all artists will benefit from it. CFAF 70 million has also been granted in food and non-food items to artists in Côte d'Ivoire in the form of withdrawal vouchers.
Japan
Recovery Approaches
Japan’s Ministry for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) website states that as of 25 May the national emergency in Japan was lifted.
Japan’s Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare outlines in its Basic Policies for Novel Coronavirus Disease Control (Revised on May 25, 2020) their measures in combating COVID-19 including some general information in regard to holding events such as concerts, exhibitions, sports games, championships, festivals, etc.
Digital Responses
The Japanese Cabinet’s emergency measures include 1.4 billion JPY for digital content infrastructure.
Emergency Support
The Japanese government has announced:
$15 billion USD in small business loans
The Cabinet also announced a supplementary budget on 7 April of 6.1 billion JPY (EUR 52 million ) to be allocated to the Agency for Cultural Affairs:
2.1 billion JPY (EUR 18 million) for measures against covid-19 aimed at reopening cultural institutions (support up to 4 million JPY (about 34,000 EURO)/case for expense such as installation of infrared camera device, disinfectant, etc. preparing for reopening)
1.4 billion JPY (EUR 12 million) for digital content infrastructure (see above)
1.3 billion JPY (EUR 11 million) for two projects called “Art Caravan” and “creating opportunity for children’s arts and culture experience” respectively.
The supplementary budget also includes an allocation of 87.8 billion JPY (EUR 750 million ) for “Global demand creation and promotion of content business”, a new joint project of the Agency for Cultural Affairs and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Small and medium sized enterprises whose turnover has decreased by 50% compared to the previous year can apply to “Sustainable Benefits”: 2 million JPY (EUR 17,000) for corporate, 1 million JPY (EUR 8,500) for individual enterprise.
In the meantime, more specific measures to support freelancers in the arts and cultural sector are announced by municipal governments, such as Fukuoka City, which is supporting up to 500,000 JPY (EUR 4,300) per facility for live houses, halls, theatres etc attempting to distribute online contents and taking safety measures.
Click here for more info about loans and here for more info about culture measures.
Lithuania
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
The Lithuanian Culture Council has created new funding measures as follows:
Individual scholarships for cultural or artistic creators: individual developers will be able to receive a 3 months scholarship for the development of individual creative activities. (>300 artists should receive this). This means that the second and third educational scholarship grant rounds are cancelled. Developers with relevant activities will be invited to submit for the new grant round.
Funding for cultural NGOs: EUR 1.2 million program for cultural organisations has been created (I think - this is via Google translate…)
Other grant programs are suspended until the end of the quarantine, and applicants will be invited to apply for the new funding measures
EUR 700,000 will be allocated from the Copyright and Related Rights Protection Program to compensate for losses incurred by cultural workers.
The Culture Council has also started talking to funded organisations about adjusting projects, reallocating funding and postponing some activities or reorienting others. These organisations will receive 100% of the 2020 funds rather than 90% this year.
Please see the Lithuanian Culture Council for more details.
Luxembourg
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
The government of Luxembourg has amended its social assistance laws so that in the event of pandemics and terrorist attacks, the government has:
extending social assistance scheme to independent and freelance professional performing artists with the possibility of a monthly social assistance benefit up to the minimum social wage for qualified persons, and additional daily allowances (up to 20 per month)
reducing the income conditions normally required to be able to access aid schemes in proportion to the duration of the exceptional event (7 days per month during which the situation occurs)
grants for cancelled projects will not have to be repaid as long as the commitments to artists are still met for the most part
the Ministry of Culture will continue to fund new projects, with a focus on projects that can occur despite the pandemic, or requests from entities or artists in difficulty following the cancellation of a project
Cultural companies can also access partial unemployment benefits via the Employment Fund, which can cover 80% of normal salary (capped at 250% the minimum wage) for a most 1,022 hours per employee
Recoverable advances are also available to cover the loss of income of small and medium-sized enterprises and the self-employed
12 June, The Luxembourg Ministry of Culture announced an extension of its aid via the independent and intermittent professional performing artists scheme until August 31, 2020.
Malaysia
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Digital Actions
Music from Home, an initiative of the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia in collaboration with the Malaysian Music Committee, saw 300 artistes and musicians perform a series of virtual concerts on 8 April. The project provided a platform for artists to continue working and producing digital content to entertain their fans at home. Click here to read about this project (In Malay)
Emergency Support
The Communications and Multimedia Ministry (KKMM) has allocated RM1.32 million (US$302,884) as an Incentive Feature Film initiative (ITFC) in response to a proposal from the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) to help film producers and encourage them to continue producing local films.
16 April A recovery programme introduced to support Malaysian artists, collectives and arts organisations
A new programme, called Create Now Funding, operating under the auspices of CENDANA (Cultural Economy Development Agency) will provide immediate response grants of up to RM 1,500 per individual artist/cultural worker and, RM 3,500 per collective/arts organisation.
Additional new grant programmes introduced by CENDANA include;
Visual Arts INSPIRE, to support exploration process and research excursion
Visual Arts SHOWCASE, to support the contemporary expression of visual art through independent, alternative and experimental art venues
Independent Music Funding Programme, which supports development and creation of new original or adapted works, live showcases and creation of digital content.
These programmes will be rolled out on April 14. For further information click here
Mali
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
Fonds Maaya has established a Support Fund for Cultural Organisations to maintain organisations during the pandemic, with a maximum of FCFA 5 million per cultural organisation.
Malta
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Digital Actions
17 May The Times Malta discusses the increase in online alternative used by artists, designers, curators and other visual arts practitioners including a proliferation of virtual exhibitions and projects launched on social media although they note that not all experiences translate to the screen and for some projects there have been some expensive delays
Emergency Support
The Arts Council Malta has announced that the government has supported a Self-Employed In Creative Arts COVID-19 Wage Supplement.
People working in the creative arts –whether full-time employees or self-employed/freelance – are entitled to a monthly supplement of EUR 800. Part-time employees within the creative artssector are entitled to a monthly supplement of EUR 500. An updated Wage Supplement scheme will remain in place until September 2020. The benefit rate from July 2020 will be EUR 800 for full-timers and EUR 500 for part-timers to support areas involved with tourist accommodation, travel agencies, language schools, event organisation and air transport. For more info click here
Creative practitioners working in the sectors which are originally considered to have been adversely, but not drastically, affected were to beentitled to a monthly supplement of EUR 160 in the case of full-time employees, EUR 100 in the case of part-time employees, and EUR 320 in the case of self-employed/freelancers. These sectors include publishing; motion picture, video and television programming; cultural education; photography and radiobroadcasting.
Furthermore, Arts Council Malta issued a special call for the Malta Arts Fund, the most established funding programme for the arts in Malta. This call provides a fund of EUR 75,000 for artists and practitioners to develop projects which address the cultural and creative sector as impacted by the situation. This call encourages artists to consider various pertinent themes – including borders, confinement and isolation – within their projects.
7 May, Arts funding scheme
EUR 75,000 has been awarded to 11 applicants as part of a special COVID-19 Arts Council Malta funding scheme, launched to address the financial impact of the pandemic on creative and cultural practitioners, groups and organisations.
Visit Arts Council Malta for updates (25 March).
Mexico
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
The Ministry of Culture has:
instructed its cultural entities to allocate up to MXN $1 million for artists and local creators, totalling to up to MXN $32 million nationwide
announced a ‘function bank’ so that artists etc who were hired from March 20 to April 20 can receive payments on time and replace their presentations with remote presentations or postponements
offered up to MXN $200,000 for cultural programming and $1 million for cultural infrastructure renovations or equipment of buildings
offered up to MXN $5 million for financing cultural construction projects and equipping buildings
The Ministry has also opened a call entitled “With you in the distance: Art movement at home.”
Creators over 22 years of age, with a three year or more track record, can participate
Selected creators will receive MXN $20,000 in exchange for the dissemination of their work
Netherlands
Recovery Approaches
15 June. The Netherlands is taking a step by step approach to easing restrictions. The following outline measures relevant to the cultural sector:
Libraries are open, observing 1.5 metres social distancing measures.
Cinemas, theatres and concert halls can admit up to 30 people per auditorium (not counting staff) and must observe social distancing.
Museums and heritage sites may reopen with restrictions as to the numbers of visitors. Visitors must make reservations.
Music schools and arts centres can admit up to 30 people to their buildings incorporating social distancing measures.
Professional dancers, actors, musicians and other performers (except singers and wind instrument players) may practice or rehearse in groups of up to 30, observing social distancing measures.
Choirs and wind instrument ensembles are advised to await the additional advice from medical experts and not to start rehearsing together yet.
For further details please see the Government of Netherlands website
Digital Actions
On 12 May the Performing Arts Fund announced a broadening of the 2P scheme to include digital initiatives aimed at special public outreach. Click here for further information (in Dutch)
Emergency Support
12 May Additional Funding
The Performing Arts Fund is the cultural fund for music, music theatre, dance, theatre, and festivals in the Netherlands. The Fund provides support to all forms of professional performing arts on behalf of the national government.
The fund has announced additional measures to the EUR 300 million made available to the cultural sector in April. These include:
A doubling of the budget for music authors to EUR 532,000 and an increase in the budget to theatre authors by EUR 75,000
The temporary Balcony Scenes scheme which has a budget of EUR 500,000 and is aimed at individual performing artists such as directors, actors, choreographers, dancers, musicians, but also music and theatre authors. Applications can be submitted continuously from May 18, 2020.
Broadening the 2P scheme for digital initiatives (see above)
For more info click here.
On 15 April the Netherlands government announced an extra EUR 300 million for the cultural sector. The EUR 300 million has four elements:
increase subsidies for institutions and festivals
increase existing loan facilities at the National Restoration Fund for national monuments
funding for the six government culture funds to support crucial institutions in the value chain, especially in regions and cities, such as important municipal and regional museums, venues and cinemas
Increase the loan facilities at Cultuur + Ondernemen (crucial for-profit parties in the value chain such as producers, commercial festivals / galleries can go here)
Previous support measures are the general package the government passed in March, including:
shorter working hours
extra support for self-employed people
tax measures
leniency package for cultural sector - suspension of rent for government-subsidised museums, advance payment of subsidies
New Zealand
Recovery Approaches
11 June New Zealand are operating on alert Level 1, the final stage in their phased recovery. There are currently no restrictions on gatherings. This includes public and private events and gatherings as well as sports and cultural activities. There are no limits on numbers of participants nor are there any physical distancing requirements.
Attendees should have access to appropriate hand washing facilities with soap and water, and the ability to dry their hands thoroughly as well as an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
For further details click here
On 28 and 29 May, NZ announced NZD $275 million rescue package for the arts, including:
Careers Support for Creative Jobseekers program: $7.9 million
Creative Arts Recovery and Employment Fund: $70m over three years for supporting the rebuild of the creative industries by commissioning and supporting creative projects at a national and local level.
Cultural Innovation Fund: $60m over three years for a contestable fund to support new ways of operating, cross-sector partnerships, and create new ways to add value to the economy, particularly through digital exports. This will include supporting innovative approaches to Māori artforms and traditional knowledge.
Cultural Capability Fund: $20m for a focus on immediate needs in response to Covid-19, such as legal services, online delivery and audience development.
New Zealand Music Recovery Fund: $16.5 million specifically directed towards the contemporary popular music industry (including $7.1m to boost NZ on Air's New Music programmes, $5m for a Live Music Touring Fund, $3m immediate support for safe music venues which will be administered by the NZ Music Commission, and $1.4m to help musicians recoup lost income via Outward Sounds and NZ Music Month.)
$25 million for Creative NZ
$1.4 million for Antarctic Heritage Trust
$11.364 million to Heritage NZ Pouhere Taonga
$18 million for the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
$2 million for the Museum Hardship Fund to be administered by Te Papa National
$31.8 million for Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision (including funding to prevent the loss of the audio and visual collection which is rapidly deteriorating)
$2.03 million for Royal New Zealand Ballet
$4 million for Waitangi National Trust Board
12 June
The New Zealand Government is spending an extra $4 million on boosting the creative learning programme for kids in schools, providing jobs for 300 artists.
The programme pairs experienced artists and creatives with school children, to teach them how to express themselves creatively through art, dance, drama and music.
For further info click here
Emergency Support
On 17 April, Creative NZ launched a ‘Thankful for Art’ campaign encouraging the public to express the love they have for the arts. #TFA.
Creative NZ has announced a $16 million Emergency Response Package in emergency funding for 80 arts organisations and ‘resilience grants’ for artists. The agency has also suspended all currently open funding programs. The funding will be opened from 14 April, distributed to the sector through to 30 June. It includes $4.5 million in new money plus $11.5 million repurposed from other funding. Phase 2 will for post-June 2020 will be explored at the April Arts Council meeting.
The Emergency Response Package includes two initial components:
Resilience Grants for eligible artists, arts practitioners, arts groups and arts organisations (non-investment clients):
Arts Continuity Grant (up to $50k), supporting the creation of new work or the reframing of an existing project in light of COVID-19, including creative and professional development, promotion and distribution (eg, supporting new ways of working).
Emergency Relief Grant (up to $10k per individual), for eligible artists and arts practitioners, collectives and groups who we know may be experiencing devastating loss of income and opportunity and an uncertain future, and who have applied for the announced government support. More details to come – applications will need to include details of the impact of COVID-19 on their arts practice.
Creative New Zealand is planning quick application turnarounds and rolling weekly decisions for both the Arts Continuity Grant and Emergency Relief Grant, but will monitor this commitment and the rapidly changing environment.
Short term Relief for Investment Clients – open to existing investment clients and on top of existing funding, with priority given to those materially negatively impacted by COVID-19, to help them stabilise their businesses and remain viable. Investment clients are the 83 multi-year funded arts organisations in the Toi Tōtara Haemata and Toi Uru Kahikatea investment programmes.
The NZ government is also offering anyone working in events, entertainment, tourism, hospitality a 12 week wage subsidy.
Danish Finance Ministry’s helpful diagram about all the possible economic supports available.
Thanks to Diane Busittil for sending me this picture. It’s a great example of a simple info card.
Northern Ireland
Recovery Approaches
Easing of restrictions
11 June, The Northern Ireland government website posted the following details relevant to cultural activities;
Libraries are open with restricted services
Open air museums may re-open
Museum and galleries are open
Concert and theatre rehearsals may resume
Outdoor concerts are operating on a restricted basis
Spectators may attend live events on a restricted basis
Nightclubs, concerts open on a limited basis
Emergency Support
On 30 March, the Communities Minister announced 1 million pounds for an emergency Creative Support Fund which will enable artists and institutions to present work in new and innovative ways.
Arts Council Northern Ireland have announced that they will:
Honour all grants already made in 2019/20
Issue any remaining balance of payments for 2019/20 urgently
Roll over organisations' 2019-20 grants to 2020/21 thereby enabling advancement of payments
Work flexibly on contracts for next year, possibly including advanced payments to assist with cashflow
Ask funded organisations to honour contracts with artists and freelancers
Discuss with its parent department (Department of Communities) what else could be offered
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s is accepting submissions for its Organisations Emergency Scheme until 12 June. The primary objective of the programme is to support the continuance of creative work and assist operational costs where necessary. The programme seeks to assist small to medium scale organisations to explore ways of working that will help them adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances.
It will prioritise applications that:
Can demonstrate a loss of income as a direct result of COVID-19
Can demonstrate urgent operational costs not met by existing income, grant aid or other forms of assistance; these could include overheads and the cost of being operational until 31 March 2021.
Norway
Recovery Approaches
As from 7 May, events of up to 50 people will be allowed in public places. Participants must maintain a minimum distance of one metre.
Private events may be held with a maximum of 20. Participants must maintain a distance of at least one metre.
The ban on events of over 500 participants has been extended until August 31st, 2020.
See the Norwegian government website for further details.
Emergency Support
On 29 May, Norway’s Ministry of Culture announced that the compensation scheme for cultural organizers will be increased, adjusted and extended until 31 August. In addition, individual artists will receive NOK 70 million in a temporary scholarship scheme to be managed by the National Artist's Scholarship. For further updates click here (In Norwegian)
The Arts Council Norway is managing the compensation scheme for the cultural sector which will amount to approx. NOK 300 million, and will be introduced at the same time as a similar scheme for the sports and voluntary sector. The scheme includes measures targeting freelancers, self-employed people and cultural organisations.
The scheme does not include institutions with operating grants from the state, but the Cultural Council is monitoring the situation closely and knows that the institutions are also heavily affected by COVID-19.
On 25 March, Arts Council Norway also announced that NOK 30 million of the Norwegian Cultural Fund will be set aside in a separate grant scheme for art and cultural projects to must adapt to the crisis. The scheme is funded from unused funds from previous years and redeployment of funds from other schemes. The scheme is intended to:
stimulate new ways of producing and disseminating art and culture in the ongoing crisis
contribute to production and dissemination across arts and heritage and will target artists, groups, and distributors
digital forms of production and dissemination are central, but applicants can also receive subsidies for new physical means of dissemination as long as they abide by the rules for infection control
support can be received for completely new works and projects that contribute to the reuse of works that have been produced but can now be disseminated on new platforms
the scheme as retroactive effect, so projects that were developed or implemented after events were restricted by government on 12 March can also apply
the scheme is expected to have its first deadline in early May, with faster processing times
The fixed grant schemes will continue as normal. The new scheme can be expanded in need is greater than expected.
Visit Arts Council Norway for updates.
Click here for more info about the compensation scheme.
Peru
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
The Peruvian government will include artists in the 380 soles voucher which is being granted to all those affected by the pandemic shutdown.
The Philippines
Recovery Approaches
On 7 June the Film Development Council of the Philippines introduced Health and Safety Protocols for the Conduct of Film and Audio-visual Production Shoots and Audio-visual Activities. The following are among the mandatory control measures:
Reduce the number of workers (maximum of 50).
Scripts revisions and production executions to be done without sacrificing health and safety measures.
Maintain physical distancing.
Employ engineering controls to limit physical contact and personal hygiene.
Enforce effective implementation of JAO through Administrative controls.
Proper use of PPEs.
For further details click here
Emergency Support
Thanks to Jodinand Aguillon for this information!
On 18 March, the Philippines Department of Labour and Employment announced that self-employed, under-employed and displaced marginalised workers who have lost their livelihood or earnings have been affected by the pandemic can receive payment for 10 days of ‘work’ involving the disinfection / sanitation of their houses / dwellings and the immediate vicinity.
The following package of services will be provided:
Payment will comprise 100% of the highest minimum wage for the region
Enrolment in group micro-insurance
Please see the Department website for details.
The Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) Disaster Assistance and Relief (DEAR) Program has been triggered by the pandemic crisis. This means that:
individuals who are registered under the National Registry for Audio-Visual Workers (NRAW) who worked, or was scheduled to work in the period, and who are not eligible for regular unemployment benefits, and are of low income status, can receive a one-off flat payment of 8,000 pesos tax-free.
Please see the FDCP website for details.
Poland
Recovery Approaches
After the end of the epidemic, the Minister of Culture and National Heritage plans to announce a large grant program whose main goal will be to revive cultural activities and offset any losses that the cultural sector has suffered through the restrictions. This includes:
a special compensation program to revive cultural activities and compensate for any losses that the cultural sector has suffered through the restrictions
an increase in the pool of creative scholarships from 1.5 to at least PLN 6.5 million with the possibility of a second stage of the scholarship competition
subsidies for cultural institutions
The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage has posted detailed guidelines on their website regarding the reopening of various institutions. Further information can be accessed here (In Polish)
18 May saw the removal of cultural restrictions that included the resumption of:
outdoor cinemas (including car cinemas), while maintain social distance and catering services to be delivered to the car with staff wearing PPE
work on film sets (including sanitary regulations), with masks to be worn where appropriate
phonographic and audiovisual recordings in cultural institutions,
individual classes at art colleges,
resumption of trials and exercises.
On 30 May The fourth stage of lifting restrictions (in Polish) commenced. It is no longer necessary to cover the nose or mouth when keeping a distance of 2 meters from others. Masks will still be necessary in some confined spaces, including shops, churches, buses and trams. In addition, cinemas, theatres, gyms and massage salons, will reopen in accordance with a strict sanitary regime.
On 2 June, the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage released guidelines applicable to those organizing cultural and entertainment events during the epidemic.
These guidelines detail information under the following headings:
Internal rules of the event organizer.
Principles of artistic and executive work.
Information policy for event participants.
Audience organization rules.
Safety rules at the event site.
Conducting catering and commercial activities during the event.
Additional procedures for outdoor events.
Procedures to be followed in the event of confirmation of a participant's SARS-CoV-2 infection or event handling.
For further information click here (in Polish)
Digital Actions
On 28 April the Minister of Culture and National Heritage outlined the "Culture on the Web" grant and scholarship program for the dissemination of creative activities or the presentation of its effects in electronic communication channels, primarily on the Internet. The total project budget is PLN 80 million of which PLN 20 million is allocated directly to scholarships for creators, and PLN 60 million for the implementation of projects by institutions.
9 June. The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage outlined an initiative to collect documentation from anyone who wishes to share their experiences during the pandemic. Documentation can be sent electronically or by traditional means to the selected State Archives or its branch with the view that all submissions will be made available online.
A competition will be run in conjunction with this campaign; 'For tempora, o mores! Notes from a family archivist from the AD 2020 pandemic caused by a coronavirus. "Its purpose is to document events, experiences, emotions, and everyday life in an individual and family dimension. The reports created within it will serve to consolidate, preserve and disseminate the evidence of this year's pandemic.
You can read more about these initiatives here (in Polish)
Emergency Support
The Polish government introduced the Anti-Crisis Shield which includes support to cover 40% of salaries of employees up to the amount of the national average wage, and for self-employed or contract workers, up to 80% of the minimum wage [I might have got this wrong via Google Translate]
Specific to the cultural sector, the total value of support for the cultural sector in various forms may have a value of up to PLN 4 billion (EUR 900 million).
A new ‘Creativity on the Internet’ grant program: grants for the development of digital forms of artistic presentation (PLN 20 million)
Additional program to compensate for losses to culture in connection with the pandemic after its conclusion
Flexible approach to the implementation and settlements of tasks required under the Minister’s programs
Allowing film premieres on VOD platforms and the Internet
Extending deadlines and simplifying procedures for applications for financial support for AV productions
Social assistance for artists: Social assistance from the Culture Promotion Fund can be obtained by artists who are in a difficult financial situation. The Minister of Culture and National Heritage has made efforts to increase the funds allocated to social assistance for artists and cultural professionals.
Change the regulations on film and audiovisual production, indicating that “film” is also a production that has not been shown in the cinema. This is to enable the the audiovisual sector to receive grants/subsidies from the Polish Film Institute also for audiovisual productions which will be presented on digital platforms (VOD).
Financing of institutions to be maintained at an unchanged level.
Directors of cultural institutions to pay additional remuneration to artists for "substitute" work carried out outside the institution's premises.
Local self-government officials encouraged to reduce rents of municipal premises
Portugal
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
Portugal has taken several steps to establish exceptional and temporary measures to provide a response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the cultural and artistic domains, especially concerning the cancellation of performances and similar events.
The Ministry of Culture has launched a call for all performing arts - independent artists and groups - to provide financial support through new projects; the available fund is EUR 1 million.
The Arts Directorate General maintains payments to the supported entities.
Radio-Television Portugal (RTP) is launching a support package for independent audiovisual production. There is also a Covid-19 line of credit for small and micro enterprises in most banks.
Please click here for more info.
Romania
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
Artists and cultural workers are able to apply for compensation representing 75% of there average gross national wage.
Scotland
Recovery Approaches
29 May, Scotland moved to Phase 1 of the route map for moving out of lockdown. Current advice posted on the Scottish Government website includes:
Protect yourself and others:
stay at home
only go outside for essential food, health and work reasons
stay 2 metres (6 feet) away from other people
wash your hands regularly and as soon as you get home
For further information click here
Emergency Support
On Friday 27 March, Creative Scotland launched:
The Creative Scotland Bridging Bursary Fund for freelance creative professionals who have lost earnings due to the cancellation of work as a result of COVID-19, particularly those who are least likely to benefit from the government’s Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. The Fund will offer one-off payments of between £500 and £2,500 to help support immediate needs, opening Monday 30 March. The Fund is now closed, and was originally funded at £2 million but received an extra £1 million from the Scottish government (see below) and £1 million from the Freehills Foundation, ultimately making the total available £4 million.
A parallel £1.5 million Screen Scotland Bridging Bursary Fund will provide one-off bursary support to self-employed screen sector workers
Creative Scotland also repurposed its Open Project Fund as The Open Fund: Sustaining Creative Development to provide support for individuals and organisations to sustain their creative development in the coming months.
The £7.5 million Fund is a revised approach to Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund
Applicants are encouraged to use funding to explore how best to sustain their practice, and reimagine their work, during the current climate and in the months to come.
Funds may also be used for the development and presentation of work.
The Fund will support up to 12 months of activity with a maximum award of £50,000.
Applications to the fund will open on Friday 3 April.
Creative Scotland is also:
Asking regularly funded organisations and other grant recipients to honour their contracts with freelancers and artists
Honouring all funding awards already committed, regardless of whether the project is cancelled, reduced or rescheduled
Culture Counts is hosting a survey open until May 2020 which is for Scotland’s artists and organisations to report the impact of COVID-19.
On 21 April the Scottish government also announced £100 million to support the self-employed and SMEs as follows:
£34 million Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund, managed by Local Authorities, will be allocated to the newly self-employed facing hardship through £2,000 grants
£20 million Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund, managed by the Enterprise Agencies in partnership with Creative Scotland and VisitScotland for creative, tourism and hospitality companies not in receipt of business rates relief. Companies of up to 50 employees not receiving business rates relief will have rapid access to £3,000 hardship grants or larger grants up to £25,000 where it can be demonstrated support is needed.
£45 million Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund, managed by the Enterprise Agencies for vulnerable SME firms who are vital to the local or national economic foundations of Scotland
This announcement also includes an additional £1 million to top up the Creative Scotland Bridging Bursary Fund.
Singapore
Recovery Approaches
15 June. The Singapore government announced they would commence phase 2 of reopening from June 18. Click here for full details of resumptions and safe management principles.
Digital Actions
The Digital Presentation Grant (DPG) for the arts is a time-limited scheme for artists and art organisations to present their work in digital form or via digital mediums, during the COVID-19 period. Successful applicants may receive up to $20,000 per project. Projects should be completed by 31 December 2020.
Emergency Support
On 26 March, the Singapore government announced an additional SGD $55 million for the arts and culture sector. The funds will be used as follows:
the National Arts Council of Singapore (NAC) will provide funding for major companies and leading arts groups to retain jobs
NAC will further enhance the Capability Development Scheme for the Arts (CDSA) to support the upskilling and professional development of arts organisations and practitioners
the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY), NAC, and the National Heritage Board will administer a new Fund for Digitisation of Arts and Culture Content to support arts and cultural institutions, organisations and practitioners to present works digitally, offer new experiences for audiences, and create new economic opportunities
This announcement follows the earlier allocation by the National Arts Council of Singapore SGD $1.6 million for two new initiatives that will help arts groups a) improve their skills, and b) ease expenses incurred from shows being cancelled or postponed.
A one-time Capability Development Scheme for the Arts to encourage upskilling
Venue Hire Subsidy of 30% for venue rental and associated costs for activities occurring between 7 March and 30 June 2020.
These initiatives are part of the government’s Support and Stabilisation Package, which also includes:
new Self-Employed Persons training support scheme (delivered by the Ministry of Manpower). Under this, all self-employed persons will be paid an hourly $7.50 SGD training allowance when attending eligible programs.
Click here for more info about the Ministry’s funding response.
Click here for more info from the National Arts Council of Singapore.
See the Singapore government’s Supplementary Budget Statement Annex B-8 for more information about the SGD $55 million package.
The Singapore government has released further details on their measures to sustain the arts during COVID-19:
On April 6th with a subsequent update on 21 April, the government announced it would co-fund a 25% wage support scheme for local employees for a period of nine months. This support will be increased to 75% for the month of April and May. Additional jobs support for arts and culture will be announced at a later date.
Enhanced rental waivers – eligible tenants and arts organisations that are Registered Charities on MCCY-owned properties, will receive up to two months of rental waivers under the Arts and Culture Resilience Package. In addition, all non-residential tenants on government-owned properties who do not qualify for the two months of waiver will receive 1 month of rental waiver.
From 8 April 2020 onwards, the Capability Development Scheme for the Arts (CDSA) will be enhanced, benefitting a wider range of arts organisations and professionals. The enhancements include increasing the funding level for arts organisations and SEPs and extending training programmes until 31 December.
For further details on these recovery measures including digital actions click here
Slovenia
Recovery Approaches
30 April, the Slovenian government have published guidelines for the gradual opening of museums and galleriesand libraries (In Slovenian)
Emergency Support
The Slovenian government has announced:
self-employed cultural workers will receive a three-month basic income. They will receive $350 for the month of March if they prove a decline in income of at least 25% compared to February 2020, and for April and May they will receive $700 each if they can prove a decline in income compared to February 2020 of at least 50%. The State will also cover their social security contributions for these three months.
NGOS are entitled, like other employers, to government reimbursement of workers’ wages if they are unable to provide them with work as a result of the pandemic
Please see the Slovenian government website for details.
South Africa
Recovery Approaches
South Africa is on Alert level three with restrictions on many activities including workplaces and social interactions. For a detailed list of current measures posted on the South African government website click here
Emergency Support
On 25 March the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture has announced a relief fund of R150 million for artists, athletes and technical personnel and the core ecosystem that supports them. As at 30 May, the MECs of Sport, Arts and Culture in all provinces have since announced the provincial relief funds to assist athletes and artists at that level. These Funds amount to more than R50 million combined. For further details click here
DSAC-funded projects that had to be cancelled will be compensated for the expenditure incurred (DSAC reserves the right to determine a flat rate fee for all such beneficiaries)
DSAC-funded institutions whose productions have been cancelled. from March-June will pay the artists and practitioners already booked
Cancelled non-DSAC-funded projects can apply for Relief Assistance if they have a national footprint, particularly involving creatives from various provinces.
DSAC will continue to accept spontaneous project proposals for the use of online solutions “The 4th Industrial Revolution” until 4 April. These concepts should respond to the effect of COVID-19 on the sport, arts and culture sectors with digital platforms, VOD ideas (Video on Demand), streaming, podcasts, social media, webinars, short animations and documentaries, etc. Compensation will be in the form of a flat rate payment, to be included in the proposal
Visit the Department website for details.
South Korea
Recovery Approaches
On 8 May the government announced:
Financial support for the planning and production of performances at small theaters for up to 200 theaters, with up to 60 million won for each theater
Financial support for the performance production of artists and arts companies for up to 160 companies. The support will range between 20 million won and 200 million won
Support for ticket prices paid by the audience. Each box office will be provided with 3 million discount coupons worth 8,000 won per person
For further details click here
Emergency Support
Thank you to Jebaek Oh from the Korea Arts Management Service for this update (13 April).
South Korea has announced an emergency financial aid package worth KRW 100 trillion aimed at small businesses, medium sized companies and the self-employed. Assistance includes:
eligibility of small businesses for loans with low interest rates
loan guarantee program
extensions on loan payments
job retraining
childcare subsidies
financial support for paid leave for those hospitalised or isolated due to COVID-19
household relief funding, alleviation of social security contributions and electricity bills
early payment of tax refunds
Special support for the arts includes:
Emergency Livelihood Stabilization Loan for Artists (closed on March 10) - loans at the rate of 1.2% / loan amount limited to 10 million won / term unredeemed of two years and repayment period of three years
Creative Reserve Fund Support Project - Creative Steppingstone (closed on March 20). A total of 12,000 artists selected for the creative reserve fund support project / 3 million won for each person
Support available from 3 April 2020:
COVID-19 Special Loan for Artists: emergency support for artists suffering from financial difficulties due to cancellation or delay of performances. Loan Limit: 10 million won; Loan Interest: Annual rate of 1.2% (additional 3% for overdue payment)
Support for business categories that are eligible for special employment support (e.g. tourism and performing arts) (Ministry of Employment and Labor)
Employment Maintenance Support Fund: Utilizing the employment maintenance support fund and other resources that are necessary for stabilizing employment and unemployed persons’ livelihood within the national budget, the government has eased criteria while providing more support (up to 90% of the business suspension allowance and leave allowance (up to 70,000 won a day))
Loan for On-the-Job Training and Living Expenses: Loan of 2 million won per month, up to 10 million won per person, up to 20 million won for business categories eligible for the government’s special support for employment; annual rate of 1% (credit guarantee fee not included) / maximum term unredeemed of three years / maximum repayment period of five years (monthly redemption by instalment)
Loans for Stabilization of Workers’ Livelihood: The government has eased criteria (e.g. income level) for loans intended to help workers stabilize their livelihood. Such loans could be used for their medical services and children’s education as well as for their living expenses that have become burdensome due to their decreasing income. It has also broadened the scope of those who are eligible while increasing the maximum amount of the loans.
As at 8 May, the government updated its planned support strategies for the Korean Art sector. Measures include the COVID-19 Emergency Employment Stabilization Support Fund for freelancers, small business owners, unpaid leave, etc. 500,000 won per month x 3 months + Employment Services.
In addition, the Korea Arts Management Service:
has set up a COVID-19 Information Desk for the Performing Arts
offers supply of cleaning and disinfection products to small private theatres (with 300 seats or less)
is planning to offer support for the venue rental fee of performing arts companies hit by COVID-19
is offering financial support for the planning and production of performances at small theatres - the government will support 200 theatres, providing up to 60 million won for each theatre. This is to help the theatres produce and promote their special performances
is offering financial support for the performance production of artists and arts companies. The government will support 160 companies. The support will range between 20 million won and 200 million won, depending on the companies’ conditions including their size
is offering support for ticket prices paid by the audience. Each box office will be provided with 3 million discount coupons worth 8,000 won per person
As of 8 April, the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture has allocated additional budget of 4.5 billion won in order to provide emergency support for artists (arts companies), art educators and planners (min. 500,000 won to max. 20 million won). This includes:
“Emergency Support for the Arts Hit by COVID-19" for those in the arts and culture scene including artists (arts companies) and planners.
"Emergency Support for Art Education, Research and Online Content Production" supporting art educators and project groups.
"Emergency Support for Cultural Planning of Artists" supporting freelancers and planners.
"Artists’ Secrets of Dealing with a Disaster" collecting and supporting artists’ ideas of how to cope with disasters including COVID-19.
"Production and Distribution of Barrier-Free Performance Videos" inviting the audience to enjoy this season’s performances at Namsan Arts Center without any barrier.
For more information please visit The APRO website.
Spain
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
At the municipal and provincial levels the following steps have been taken for culture:
The Generalitat Catalunya announced €10 million in aid on March 20, which it then reassessed at €31 million on April 14, as it considered that the first amount was insufficient to tackle the scale of the crisis
The Basque Government will provide financial support of €2.5 million to the cultural sector
The Community of Madrid also announced measures to support arts and culture
Sweden
Recovery Approaches
On 29 March, the Swedish government limited public gatherings and public events to a maximum number of 50 participants.
Click here for further information
Emergency Support
The Swedish government has announced SEK 500 million in urgent support for culture. Sport will also receive the same amount.
The emergency support will be distributed to organisers, associations and individual cultural creators directly affected by cancellations due to the pandemic.
Visit the Department of Culture for more info.
Switzerland
Recovery Approaches
On 6 June, the federal government announced that measures to combat the corona virus will be relaxed.Events can now be held with a maximum of 300 people or up to 30 people attending a spontaneous meeting. All leisure activities and tourist services may resume. Hygiene and distance rules must be observed. If the distance rules cannot be adhered to, the tracking of close personal contacts (contact tracing) must be ensured, for example with presence lists.
For further details click here (in German)
Digital Actions
The Swiss arts council Pro Helvetia has launched a call for its Close Distance initiative. The aim of the project is to encourage arts practitioners and cultural institutions to initiate new forms of collaboration and new forms of connection with audiences or to intensify existing ones – within Switzerland or in cooperation with international partners. Experimental formats of artistic collaboration and reflection, as well as international networking, partnerships and platforms are of special interest in this context. The aim is to support and stimulate the creation of new formats which can be maintained beyond the crisis and which demonstrate that physical mobility need no longer be a prerequisite for cultural production and reception. A selected project can be supported with a grant of up to CHF 50,000 ($US 51,355).
Emergency Support
The Swiss government announced general measures which relate to the cultural sector, incliuding:
Compensation for self-employed people who suffer loss of earnings due to official measures to combat COVID-19 (80% of income and a maximum of CHF 196 per day)
Expansion of the ‘short-term work allowance’ for employees on fixed-term contracts or temporary workers in organisations, and employer-like employees (e.g. partners of a company who work as employees in the company for a fee), and people who work for their spouse/partner. They can claim a flat rate of CHF 3320 as short-time work compensation for a full-time position
Guarantees for bank loans to SMEs. Affected companies can receive loans of up to 10% or sales or a maximum of CHF 20 million quickly and easily. Amounts of up to CHF 0.5 million are to be paid out immediately and 100% guaranteed by government. This should cover more than 90% of businesses.
The Swiss government also announced specific emergency support for the cultural sector of CHF 280 million in emergency aid and loss compensation:
Interest-free loans to ensure liquidity for NFP cultural organisations up to 30% of the annual income (implemented at the canton-level)
Cultural workers can receive emergency aid to cover the immediate cost of living to a maximum of CHF 196 per day (implemented by the Suisseculture Sociale association). This can occur for up to three months, and supplements the general economic measures on loss of earnings, because the ‘incomes of cultural workers are generally low and the compensation according to the (wider economy package) cannot always cover the cost of living for cultural workers. ‘Cultural workers’ are those who work full-time in the cultural sector and finance at least half their livelihood with their cultural activities or spend at least half of their normal working hours on cultural activities, and includes technical personnel.
Cultural organisations and artists can receive grants to cover the financial damage associated with cancellation or postponement of events and projects or company closures, up to 80% of the financial loss (excluding lost profits) (implemented at the canton-level)
Cultural associations in the ‘lay’ sector can receive financial aid for financial damage associated with cancellation or postponement of events, up to CHF 10,000 our cultural association (implemented by the Federal Office of Culture)
The loan facility for the NFP cultural sector is in addition to the wider economic package. NFP cultural companies do not consistently have a uniform company ID number, which technically excludes them from the liquidity facility for the overall economy.
On 13 May the Federal Council extended support for the cultural sector by four months until September 20. All major events with more than 1,000 people will remain banned at least until the end of August 2020 and numerous cultural institutions will be closed until at least June 8, 2020. The total amount remains at CHF 280 million for the time being (as per the announcement on 20 March). Funds previously used to finance interest-free loans for cultural companies are now being partially allocated to the default compensation.
Swiss Federal Office of Culture (In German)
Click here for more info. And feel free to correct me - I used Google Translate and my very basic German!
Taiwan
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
On 2 April, the COVID-19 relief budget for the arts was expanded to NT$5.22 billion. The Ministry of Culture is providing “Arts and Culture Relief 1.0 and 2.0”. This includes:
subsidising a portion of business wages for April-June along with a one-time working capital injection (Arts and Culture Relief 1.0)
subsidies for individuals under the Ministry of Labor’s “Living Allowances for the Self-Employed and Those Without Fixed Employers,” offering a monthly payment of NT$10,000 per person April-June
The Ministry of Culture will also review production or other sunk costs and increase aid accordingly to a maximum total of NT$60,000 per person (not eligible if receiving the above living allowances)
Workers in the arts and culture who receive labor insurance coverage through trade unions, have insured pay of less than NT$24,000, and whose personal income did not meet the taxable standard in 2018, may additionally receive a living allowance of up to NT$30,000 from the Ministry of Labor
Arts and cultural workers who have not applied for Ministry of Labor’s program can provide evidence to Ministry of Culture of impact and apply for the “Subsidy for Reducing Operational Difficulties” April-June
For struggling arts and culture businesses that employ a large number of staff and are seeing substantial jumps in operational costs or over 50% drops in revenue January-June, a second category of “Subsidies for Staff and operational Costs for Struggling Businesses” is available April-June:
Up to NT$20,000 per employee plus one-time working capital injection
Not subject to same NT$2.5 million cap as the “Business and Personal Subsidies” category
The recipient business may not furlough or lay off staff
Please click here for more info.
Tunisia
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
The Tunisian government has established “The Culture Recovery Fund” (FRC). The Fund combines public and private endowment:
March-May 2020: financial aid for arts professionals placated by the crisis
From June 2020: possibility of additional assistance and contribution to costs of structures impacted by restrictive measures
Contribution to damage due to postponements or cancellations
Click here for more info about the Fonds Relance Culture (FRC).
UAE
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
On 14 May the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development launched the “National Creative Relief Program” to support creatives working in the cultural and creative industries to face the COVID-19 challenges. The program will provide grants to independent artists, small businesses and creative entrepreneurs in the fields of cultural and creative industries.
USA
Recovery Approaches
The USA government has posted a three phase approach to opening up America. These guidelines will be utilised by state and local officials as they reopen their economies and get people back to work
Digital Actions
8 June, In response to COVID-19, Americans for the Arts has introduced an online tool, the Arts Agency Action Kit, to assist local arts agencies and organisations to strengthen their messaging strategies and case-making to preserve their agency! For further details click here.
Emergency Support
On 25 March the US government passed a third economic stimulus package which includes $307.5 million in support for the arts and cultural sector as follows:
USD $75 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (40% to go to states and territories’ arts agencies and regional arts organisations)
USD $75 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities
USD $75 million for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
USD $50 million for the Institute of Library and Museum Sciences
USD $25 million for the Kennedy Center
USD $7.5 million for the Smithsonian
According to the Americans for the Arts, the government has agreed to waive the typical National Endowment for the Arts grants’ matching grant requirements and to waive the requirement for grants to be project-specific. All these new fast-track grants will be for general operating support with no match required.
The US National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is continuing to accept and review grant applications while monitoring the COVID-19 situation.
The NEA is:
evaluating and may adjust grant deadlines
enabling those already awarded grants to request a Period of Performance extension, or a change in the scope of the grant project
enabling grantees to draw down funds for costs and activities already completed, depending on the change
allowing grantees to close out their awards early, even if they have only completed a portion of the approved project
allowing grantees to change the scope of their projects
See the NEA’s response to COVID-19 for more information including FAQs for applicants.
The US government has also announced:
The US Small Business Administration is offering Economic Injury Disaster Loans to small businesses in 36 states and Washington, DC at a ‘low’ interest rate of 3.75% (2.75% for private NFPs)
Individuals and businesses will have an extra 90 days past 15 April to pay tax bills
Expanded unemployment benefits
Tax credits for individuals .
The City of Boston has announced an Artist Relief Fund which will award grants of $500 to $1,000 to individual artists who live in Boston whose creative practices and incomes are adversely impacted by the pandemic. The grants can cover:
Recouping losses due to cancelled events, including performing arts, panels, speaking opportunities
Reimbursement for travel expenses related to creative work that you paid for yourself, e.g. attending cancelled conferences, artist residencies, touring
Offsetting lost income for teaching artists who cannot teach because of closures
Support for artists working full or part-time in the service industry who have lost supplemental income used to support their creative practices.
Click here for info about emergency funding from foundations and unions in the US.
Click here for a US State-by-State guide to support for musicians and the music industry.
Click here for info about the City of Boston fund.
Uruguay
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
On 3 April, the Uruguay Ministry of Education and Culture announced a UYP $37 million “Ruben Melogno Cultural Soildarity Fund” to:
buy productions that will be later presented in educational institutions and community organisations
support artistic institutions and schools
contract teaching activities online
The Ministry is also:
bringing forward the call for Competitive Funds of UYP 15 million and Regional Funds of UYP 7.2 million
reassigning the Stimulus Funds for Artistic Training and Creation to arts-teaching activities and educational institutions (UYP 10 million)
The Department of Culture of the Municipality of Montevideo announced a UYP $10 million fund to support cultural activity. This includes:
support for artists
financing new projects
providing more cultural content online
The intention is to generate financial support to compensate for part of the losses experienced.
Wales
Recovery Approaches
31 May The Chief Medical Officer for Wales advised that those who are shielding were, from 1 June, allowed unlimited exercise outdoors, and could meet with members of one other household outdoors as long as strict physical distancing and hygiene practices are adhered to. Click here for further information.
Coronavirus regulations
8 June The Welsh government website lists four main restrictions;
certain business are not allowed to be open
people have to stay local and not be indoors with anyone who is not a member of their household unless they have a good reason
physical distancing of 2 metres applies when going out
people must not gather in public places other than with members of one other household
Digital Actions
Welsh libraries have continued to offer digital services during the pandemic aided by Government support which provided £250,000 towards additional digital resources. This in turn has led to an increase in the number of individuals accessing these resources. Statistics provided by Bolinda, one of the main providers of e-resources, show a 110% increase in total loans compared to the same period in 2019
Further funding has been provided to libraries via the Welsh £1 million Cultural Resilience Fund to help adapt facilities to accommodate a click and collect service.
To read the press release from 2 June click here.
Emergency Support
In Wales, the government announced a package which matches the measures in England providing a boost to small businesses and self-employed people with and without ‘rateable properties’, affected by COVID-19 in the retail, leisure and hospitality industries. The package provides:
a ‘business rates’ holiday for a year
grants of 25,000 pounds for businesses in the same sectors with a rateable value of between 12,001-51,000 pounds
10,000 pound grants to all businesses eligible for Small Business Rates Relief with a rateable value of 12,000 pounds or less.
On 1 April Arts Council of Wales announced the launch of a Resilience Fund to help the arts in Wales to protect themselves against the impact of the Coronavirus crisis. Key points:
A £7 million Resilience Fund jointly financed by the Welsh Government and Arts Council of Wales
Funding for individuals and organisations
Managed by the Arts Council of Wales
The Resilience Fund includes:
£2 million to individuals: the Urgent Response Fund and Stabilisation Fund (this includes an additional £0.5 million donation from the Freehills Foundation on 23 April)
£5.5 million for the Stabilisation Fund for Organisations
The Arts Council of Wales previously also announced:
funding conditions for funded organisations will not apply for at least three months
advance grant payments can be made to assist with cashflow
in exchange, the Council asks funded organisations to honour contracts agreed with freelancers and artists
all project grants will be honoured, regardless of whether the activity is cancelled / reduced / rescheduled
Click here for more info about the Wales business relief package.
Click here for more info about Arts Council of Wales response.
Zimbabwe
Recovery Approaches
We are not aware of any announcements as at 11 June 2020.
Emergency Support
On 23 April the National Arts Council of Zimbabwe announced a COVID-19 Culture and Creative Industries Portal which aims to offer information resources to the sector to support preparedness. The government also recently announced plans to disburse funds through a grant relief program for artists affected by the national lockdown.
I will keep adding to this blog post, so please do let me know if you hear of interesting cases or practices to support the arts and cultural sector.
For more information, visit IFACCA, the international membership body for funding agencies and arts and cultural ministries. You can also view a PDF of international responses at the Australia Council for the Arts, which is now supporting me to keep updating this list.