Northern Ireland's Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey MLA has
announced funding of £1.5 million to support individuals and
organisations in the Arts Sector in response to Covid-19.
‘The Creative Support Fund’, has been created to provide
financial support for a diverse range of performing artists and
community art organisations.
Individual artists and creative practitioners, who have lost
their work as a result of Covid-19, can apply for funding of up
to £5,000 to take new and innovative approaches in continuing to
provide their talents and services to audiences, particularly
those facing barriers to the arts.
Small and medium sized organisations will be able to apply for
maximum funding of £25,000 to help them develop new projects or
programmes or re-arrange events which have had to be cancelled
during the Covid-19 period.
Minister Hargey said: “These two programmes will provide a
significant and welcome source of assistance to individuals and
organisations in the Arts Sector, which plays a crucial role in
our economy and contributes greatly to the mental wellbeing of
our communities.
“As a result of this pandemic they do not have
opportunities to work in their usual way that is why I am pleased
to be able to support them through this ‘Creative Support Fund’.
It will provide them with the means to find different ways of
engaging with audiences across a range of platforms and ensure
arts services are not withdrawn from the public at this crucial
time.”
The Creative Support Fund will be administered by the Arts
Council NI who are contributing £500,000 of Lottery Funding to
the initiative. The Individual Artists and Creative Practitioners
Programme will be available immediately. To find out more about
the criteria and to apply visit www.artscouncil-ni.org
The Minister concluded: “The Arts Sector is facing many
barriers, this fund will offer equality of opportunity and access
for a broad range of people. I have asked my Department to
continue to do everything possible to provide support and
assistance to individuals and groups in the Arts Sector at this
time. I am also grateful to the Arts Council for working with my
Department in responding to the needs of the Arts Sector.”
