Question reference: S5W-29229
- Asked by: Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 20 May 2020
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Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 1 June 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what COVID-19 funding support packages it has in place for people working in the cultural sector, and how many people have been supported to date.
Answer
The Scottish Government has made a number of grant schemes available specifically for the cultural sector as a result of COVID-19, and in addition cultural businesses are able to apply to a range of other COVID-19 business support schemes. These funds are supported via a mixture of additional budget allocations to the sector and through repurposing of existing funding streams.
Specific cultural support:
Creative Scotland is providing the following support in response to the COVID-19 situation.
The Creative Scotland Bridging Bursary Fund for freelance creative professionals (£4.0m); As of Monday 25 May, 1596 arts and creative bursaries have been paid.
The repurposed Open Project fund to help practitioners adapt and respond to the current changing circumstances (£7.5m). As at 25 May, there have been 176 individual applications and 86 applications from organisations to the Open Fund. These will be assessed at the end of May.
One-off bursaries through Screen Scotland to film and TV sector workers (£1.5m). 519 have been paid as at 25 May.
Screen Scotland has also announced that Scotland’s independent film and TV production companies are able to apply for newly ring-fenced development support fund of £1m for awards over the next 3-6 months to enable planning towards production when Government guidance allows.
Museums Galleries Scotland have formed the Urgent Response Fund (£700k) and the Digital Resilience Fund (£115k). As of 25 May 2020, 24 applications have been received for the Urgent Response Fund, with 20 assessed. Nine museums have been awarded funding, nine decisions have been deferred, two declined and four to be assessed. The Digital Resilience fund has received 46 applications, with 42 assessments and 40 awards having been made.
We are supporting the Edinburgh Fringe with a £500,000 initial package of support comprising a £400,000 interest-free loan from the Scottish Government and a £100,000 grant from the Council.
Wider funds which cultural organisations may be eligible to apply for include the £30 million Creative, Tourism & Hospitality Enterprises Hardship Fund, the £34 million Newly Self-Employed Hardship Fund, the Third Sector Resilience Fund and the £120 million Pivotal Enterprise Resilience Fund.