Emergency funds and initiatives supporting the cultural sector in Europe and beyond

Here is a list of useful resources to help the cultural community, on ongoing initiatives both at local and international level.

Europe

ALL OVER EUROPE :

• European Cultural Foundation’s Culture of Solidarity Fund which supports imaginative cultural projects that reinforce European solidarity and the idea of Europe as a shared public space : https://www.culturalfoundation.eu/culture-of-solidarity
• Call for European Photographers by Hangar Photo Art Center : https://www.hangar.art/call-for-photographers

 

BELGIUM :

• Wallonie Bruxelles : Informations sur les aides à la mobilité pour les acteurs culturels : http://www.wbi.be/fr/page/covid-19-informations-aides-mobilite-acteurs-culturels#.XoxQjogzbIX
• Flanders – Overbruggingsrecht voor zelfstandigen : https://www.vlaio.be/nl/subsidies-financiering/subsidiedatabank/overbruggingsrecht-voor-zelfstandigen-coronavirus?fbclid=IwAR2VYX_bD7QtEKs_2w4drPuo7rFMzUDkS6uWCNbS_HAwdh_bKA4xQGUnaZg

BULGARIA :

• The Government announces support scheme for lowest-earners in cultural field : https://sofiaglobe.com/2020/04/10/covid-19-bulgaria-announces-support-scheme-for-lowest-earners-in-cultural-field/
• Crisis fund to support independent artists in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv : https://sofiaglobe.com/2020/04/23/covid-19-crisis-fund-to-support-independent-artists-in-bulgarias-plovdiv/

CROATIA :

• The Ministry of Culture established a special crisis fund for the cultural sector : https://www.min-kulture.hr/default.aspx?id=24360&fbclid=IwAR02XFenKF0azig99dNO88k2wPG9pEtgJW4Pc9NXpwqk4i0s7XY-9GDUSis

ESTONIA :

• The Ministry of Culture has announced EUR 3 million to partially compensate for the direct costs and income lost due to the cancellation of cultural events : https://www.kul.ee/et/uudised/abiks-loovisikutele-koroonaviiruse-levikust-tingitud-kriisis

FINLAND :

• Kone Foundation is offering grants for home residency for artists living in Finland, a Finish artist working abroad and artist with a close connection to Finland : https://koneensaatio.fi/en/open-call-to-a-home-residency-for-actors-working-in-the-arts/

FRANCE :

• The Ministry of Culture is supporting artists and professionals in the cultural sector : https://www.culture.gouv.fr/Presse/Communiques-de-presse/Mesures-exceptionnelles-de-soutien-aux-intermittents-et-salaries-du-secteur-culturel-dans-le-cadre-de-la-crise-sanitaire
• Centre national de la musique launched an emergency relief : https://www.irma.asso.fr/IMG/pdf/20200318-cnmcommunique_.pdf?fbclid=IwAR3e7-VOQGA3jJD-DBeqKTvjzbELuPcjfkyKzPA0T3Kdt4c9JZ6kl15nnKs
• France’s National Book Centre Emergency Plan : https://centrenationaldulivre.fr/actualites/le-plan-d-urgence-du-cnl-en-faveur-du-secteur-du-livre

GERMANY :

• The German federal government is stepping in with an aid package for the country’s creative and cultural sectors. According to a press release shared by the ministry of culture and reports in the German press, a staggering €50 billion in backing will be provided specifically to small businesses and freelancers, including those from the cultural, creative, and media sectors.
• The German Minister of Culture offers support to the arts and cultural sector : https://news.artnet.com/art-world/germanys-culture-minister-coronavirus-1801332

GREECE :

• Ministry of Culture to give allowance to freelancers and professionals from the sector : https://www.skai.gr/news/greece/koronoios-metra-15-ekatommyrion-eyro-gia-enisxysi-tou-politismou

IRELAND :

• The Civic Theatre established an artist emergency relief : https://www.civictheatre.ie/blog/civic-news/artist-emergency-relief-fund/?fbclid=IwAR1Hgg1ztlmRJpF3kcPwbKHgPzYR9aCpqWAIigeqKLGXsBf3EVMYnPYnYQg

ITALY :

• The government has announced EUR 130 million in 2020 in the Live Show, Cinema and AV Emergency Fund for the support of cultural workers : https://www.beniculturali.it/mibac/export/MiBAC/sito-MiBAC/Contenuti/MibacUnif/Comunicati/visualizza_asset.html_2045950620.html

LITHUANIA :

• The Lithuanian Culture Council has created new funding measures for CCS : http://www.ltkt.lt/naujienos/403-pristatomi-nauji-nvo-ir-individualiu-kureju-finansavimo-instrumentai.html

NETHERLANDS :

• The National Government is adding additional support for the Netherland’s cultural sector : https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/ministeries/ministerie-van-onderwijs-cultuur-en-wetenschap/nieuws/2020/04/15/aanvullende-ondersteuning-voor-culturele-sector

NORWAY :

• Arts Council Norway is managing a compensation scheme of NOK 300 million, directed to the arts and cultural sector : https://www.kulturradet.no/english/vis/-/corona-virus-covid-19

POLAND :

• The Ministry of Culture is supporting artists and cultural institutions : https://www.gov.pl/web/kultura/mkidn-tarcza-antykryzysowa-obejmie-ludzi-i-instytucje-kultury
• Polish Film Institute Launches Plan for Film Industry in Crisis : https://www.filmneweurope.com/news/poland-news/item/119768-polish-film-institute-launches-plan-for-film-industry-in-crisis

PORTUGAL :

• Lisbon Artist Support Fund / Fundo de apoio para artistas de Lisboa, individual initiative by Catarina Querido : https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundo-de-apoio-para-artistas-de-lisboa

SLOVENIA :

• The Slovenian government has announced that self-employed cultural workers will receive a three-month basic income : https://www.gov.si/novice/2020-03-31-minister-simoniti-predstavil-ukrepe-za-pomoc-na-podrocju-kulture/

SPAIN :

• The Ministry of Culture and Sports took measures: https://www.culturaydeporte.gob.es/en/actualidad/2020/03/200325-avales.html
• Catalonia took measures to support the culture sector : https://govern.cat/salapremsa/notes-premsa/383520/president-torra-consellera-vilallonga-proposen-paquet-20-mesures-protegir-sector-cultural-davant-consequencies-del-coronavirus

SWITZERLAND :

• Pro Helvetia launched a call for applications “Close Distance” : https://prohelvetia.ch/en/2020/04/call-close-distance-coronavirus/

UNITED KINGDOM :

• Arts Council England actions : https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/covid19
• Arts Council of Northern Ireland and University of Atypical set up a new fund specifically for deaf and disabled artists : http://artscouncil-ni.org/news/deaf-disabled-artist-support-fund-announced-by-arts-council-and-university
• Arts Council of Wales has created the Arts Resilience Fund : https://arts.wales/funding/coronavirus
• Culture in Quarantine Fund launched by the BBC and Arts Council England : https://www.artquest.org.uk/opportunity/culture-in-quarantine-fund/
• COVID-19 Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund : https://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/news-bfi/announcements/covid-19-film-tv-emergency-relief-fund
• The Society of Authors Fund set up an Emergency Fund for authors : https://www.societyofauthors.org/News/News/2020/March/Authors-Emergency-Fund-announcement

Worldwide

• Artist Protection Fund by the Institute for International Education (IIE) : https://www.iie.org/Programs/Artist-Protection-Fund
• Artists + Activists Relief Fund by Soze : https://www.wearesoze.com/relief-fund
• Artist Relief Tree (ART) for any kind of artists : https://www.facebook.com/donate/1080011789032749/10162991547775702/
• Call for ‘Arctivists’ by the Centre for Applied Human Rights (CAHR), through a grant from the Open Society : https://www.musicinafrica.net/magazine/call-applications-covid-19-funding-artists-and-activists
• COVID-19 Emergency Grant for Artists by Follow Your Art : https://www.follow-your-art.org/
• COVID 19 Sweet Relief music box : https://www.sweetrelief.org/covid-19-fund.html
• Equal Sound Corona Relief for musicians : https://equalsound.org/musicians-corona-relief-fund-application/
• Global Open Call for Art : https://community.amplifier.org/campaign/global-open-call-for-art/
• Hire Artists Platform seeks to give work to artists during this unprecedented crisis : https://hireartists.org/
• Music Relief by Spotify and donation support for musicians on SoundCloud
• Netflix Fund : https://media.netflix.com/en/press-releases/netflix-and-audiens-establish-new-covid-19-film-and-tv-emergency-fund
• Soundcloud’s Artist Accelerator Programme : https://blog.soundcloud.com/2020/04/02/add-this-new-button-to-your-profile-so-fans-can-financially-support-you/
• The Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant for painters, printmakers, and sculptors : https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/emergency-grant
• The Photographer Fund by Formart : https://www.format.com/photographer-fund
• Twenty Summer Emergency Arts Fund : https://www.20summers.org/eaf

 

MENA Region

ALL OVER THE REGION :

• Art Jameel Research and Practice Platform to support independent art practitioners : https://artjameel.org/projects/art-jameel-research-and-practice-platform/#!
• Orange Social Project Prize in Africa and the Middle East : https://startup.orange.com/en/orange-social-venture-prize/?fbclid=IwAR2p8lHBUYIz4iTK88bCqop7uApspJqZEcg7L194-MIvmW3qUMupLVzntmM

MOROCCO :

• Support the French Institute during the COVID crisis for the creation of works of art : https://if-maroc.org/cooperation-1/culture/aide-aux-projets-culturels/covid-19-appel-a-projets-exceptionnel-pour-soutenir-la-scene-artistique-et-culturelle-%20marocaine%20/?%20fbclid%20=%20IwAR1-3JAW4WePzQFo5sa602UuHi0dNLI-NoIbMxDh_FMv4S-xRO3XvaKda_g

SAUDI ARABIA :

• Community Relief Fund to help freelance Saudi filmmakers by the Red Sea Film Festival Foundation : https://www.redseafilmfest.com/community-fund

TUNISIA :

• Fonds Relance Culture by The Ministry of Cultural Affairs :  http://kapitalis.com/tunisie/2020/03/23/le-ministere-des-affaires-culturelles-cree-le-fonds-relance-culture/

UNITED ARAB STATES :

• Dubai’s arts district, Alserkal Avenue, has waived the next three months’ rent for its galleries and businesses : https://www.artsy.net/news/artsy-editorial-dubais-alserkal-avenue-arts-district-waived-rent-three-months

 

Rest of the world 

ARGENTINA :

• Fondo Desarrollar : apoyo económico del Ministerio de la Cultura para espacios culturales: https://www.cultura.gob.ar/fondo-desarrollar-apoyo-economico-para-espacios-culturales-8911/?fbclid=IwAR3pe8ayTgX9_cmUPvKxorwfgqUqOiSjZ2kj1r-Vw8BsqAYowbzDX9qsd80
• Fondos de emergencia del Ministerio de Cultura para bibliotecas populares y centros culturales : https://www.lanacion.com.ar/cultura/coronavirus-fondos-emergencia-del-ministerio-cultura-bibliotecas-nid2345734

AUSTRALIA :

• How the Government is supporting the culture and creative sectors : https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/fletcher/media-release/cultural-and-creative-sector-and-covid-19

BRAZIL:

• Governo de São Paulo annonces credit for cultural and creative businesses : http://www.cultura.sp.gov.br/governo-de-sao-paulo-anuncia-credito-de-r-500-milhoes-para-proteger-empresas-durante-pandemia-do-coronavirus/

CANADA :

• The Government of Canada has announced temporary measures to support the culture, heritage and sports sector (total of $500 million) : https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/news/2020/05/emergency-support-fund-for-cultural-heritage-and-sport-organizations-next-steps-to-support-the-industry-impacted-by-the-global-covid-19-pandemic.html
• The National Arts Centre with Facebook and Slaight Music has set up the Facebook-National Arts Centre Fund for Performing Artists : https://nowtoronto.com/music/national-arts-centre-facebook-livestream-grant/?fbclid=IwAR3Yi3oTBQWxvRJgdFlRubjpr2bsyhfIUZAabYK6djOeNDVI9a2XtE8a7mo
• National Theatre School to give $60,000 in grants to theatre students, emerging artists for online projects : https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/article-national-theatre-school-to-give-60000-in-grants-to-theatre-students/?fbclid=IwAR2FG9tmT60lvoynm3tCM0ElF4C7etgo_lBcXAuhTfLTl1T-gV5XYYhP7Q8
• CBC/Radio-Canada and Canada Council for the Arts announce the “Digital Originals” funding initiative to support the arts community : https://canadacouncil.ca/press/2020/04/digital-originals

MEXICO :

• The Government of Mexico’s COVID-19 response for artists and local creators : https://en.unesco.org/creativity/covid-19/mexicos-covid-19-response-artists-local-creators

NEW ZEALAND :

• Creative New Zealand Emergency Response Package : https://www.creativenz.govt.nz/news/creative-new-zealand-opens-first-phase-funding-for-covid-19-impacted-arts-sector

PHILIPPINES :

• Para Sa Sining #HomeNotAlone for performing artists, cultural workers, and production crews who are in need of immediate support : https://ilostmygig.ph/2020/04/02/para-sa-sining-homenotalone/
• The Film Development Council of the Philippines has triggered its Disaster Assistance and Relief Program : http://fdcp.ph/dear-program
• The National Commission for Culture and the Arts’ Assistance Program for Cultural Workers : https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1039411

SINGAPORE :

• The National Arts Council took measures to support the arts community : https://www.nac.gov.sg/whatwedo/support/sustaining-the-arts-during-covid-19.html
• Pasar Glamour Art Aid to provide urgent financial assistance to Singaporean and PR freelancers working in the performing arts industry : https://rayofhope.sg/campaign/pasarglamourartaid/
• Singapore Unbound Relief Fund for Singaporean Writers badly affected by the crisis :  https://singaporeunbound.org/opportunities

SOUTH AFRICA :

• The Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture setting a Mitigation Plan : http://www.dac.gov.za/content/statement-minister-sports-arts-and-culture-mitigation-plans-minimise-impact-covid-19

The USA :

• Arts Leaders of Color Emergency Fund for arts leaders of color based in the US : https://www.gofundme.com/f/artsleadersfund
• Authors League Fund : https://authorsleaguefund.org/apply/
• CERF+ Emergency Relief Fund : https://cerfplus.org/get-relief/apply-for-help/craft-emergency-relief-fund/
• COVID 19 Sweet Relief : https://www.sweetrelief.org/covid-19-fund.html
• Dramatists Guild Foundation Emergency Grants for playwrights, composers, lyricists, book writers : https://dgf.org/programs/grants/grants-for-writers/
• Freelance Artist Resources : https://covid19freelanceartistresource.wordpress.com/
• Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grants : https://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/grants/emergency-grants
• New Music Solidarity Fund for musicians impacted by the COVID-19 : https://www.newmusicusa.org/content/solidarity-fund/
• Rauschenberg Emergency Grant : https://www.nyfa.org/Content/Show/Rauschenberg-Emergency-Grants
• PEN American Writers’ Emergency Fund : https://pen.org/writers-emergency-fund/
• The Artist’s Fellowship for artists who are suffering immediate medical emergencies and their aftermaths : https://www.artistsfellowship.org/finacial-aid
• Find more initiatives on https://creative-capital.org/2020/03/13/list-of-arts-resources-during-the-covid-19-outbreak/

 

EU institutions response

• EU Commission statement : https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/about-eacea/news/news/information-for-beneficiaries-whose-activities-are-impacted-coronavirus_en?fbclid=IwAR1Ms_1H5zpRdS4JGCq7NWbXsyxeM4iAykzl284ufx06Wm6nQYg3HULwx40
• EU Commission launched the platform Creatives Unite to gather information on initiatives in the cultural and creative sectors in response to the crisis. Organisations can add their initiatives : https://creativesunite.eu/

Find more resources

• On the Move has compiled initiatives in the arts and culture sector, taken in Europe and beyond in response to the corona crisis : https://on-the-move.org/news/article/20675/coronavirus-resources-arts-culture-and-cultural/
• The magazine Hyperallergic offers a daily report on how COVID-19 Is Impacting the Art World: https://hyperallergic.com/546913/coronavirus-daily-report/
• UNESCO has launched a weekly “Culture & COVID-19 : Impact and Response Tracker“. It explores both the immediate impact of the health crisis and examples of how countries around the world are adapting to the situation : https://en.unesco.org/news/culture-covid-19-impact-and-response-tracker
• cci-covid19.org, an initiative of Nhimbe Trust – through an innovative, responsive and proactive approach, the Observatory curates culture, arts and heritage oriented interventions in response to complex emergencies : https://cci-covid19.org/
• Compendium monitors COVID-19 emergency responses for the CCS per country : http://www.culturalpolicies.net/covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR0yrTva-8oFg0nZdmkrrKPPporo9uSUSXUUrR9fGnwNUDfU0imWgBnazxg
• List of government responses to the impact of COVID-19 on the arts and creative industries : Canada’s National Arts Centre and Facebook will pay musicians for livestreams