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

AUSTRIA :

• Austrian Government establishes 90 million euro Fund for Freelance Artists : https://operawire.com/austrian-government-establishes-90-million-euro-fund-for-freelance-artists/

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/

CROATIA :

• Culture ministry allocates HRK 300 mn for cultural and creative industries as part of a second package of measures : https://vlada.gov.hr/news/culture-ministry-allocates-hrk-300-mn-for-cultural-and-creative-industries/29801

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

FRANCE :

• 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
• The Municipality of Paris has adopted a 15 million euros plan to support artists and actors in the cultural sector affected by the pandemic : https://www.themayor.eu/en/paris-announces-a-15-million-euros-plan-to-support-culture

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
• Germany is doling another €1 Billion to the Culture Sector and Lowering the Tax Rate on Art : https://news.artnet.com/art-world/germany-another-1-billion-culture-bailout-1878870

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 :

• Arts Council welcomes additional €20 million package from the government for 2020 : http://www.artscouncil.ie/News/Arts-Council-welcomes-additional-€20-million-support-package-for-2020/
• 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 Municipality of Amsterdam has decided to support the local arts and culture sectors with a 17 million euros financial boost : https://www.themayor.eu/en/amsterdam-a-17-million-euro-financial-injection-for-the-arts-and-culture-sector
• 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

SWEDEN :

• The Culture Council implements a support package to the culture : https://www.kulturradet.se/nyheter/2020/kulturradets-forsta-beslut-om-krisstod/

UKRAINE :

• The EU-supported ‘House of Europe’ project in Ukraine announced a number of scholarships for cultural experts and creative industries : https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/east/stay-informed/opportunities/scholarships-cultural-experts-and-creative-industries-ukraine?utm_campaign=info%40euneighbours.eu&utm_medium=email&utm_source=transactional

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
• Art Fund announces £2m to help museums in aftermath of Covid-19 : https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/17062020-art-fund-announces-2m-funding-covid-19-aftermath
• 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
• Museum Galleries Scotland provides emergency funding to more than thirty cultural institutions across Scotland : https://advisor.museumsandheritage.com/news/museums-galleries-scotland-provides-emergency-funding-30-sites-issues-covid-19-report/
• 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/
• International 2020 Relief Fund for Organisations in Culture and Education outside Europe, by the Goethe-Institut and the Federal Foreign Office : https://www.goethe.de/en/m/uun/auf/hlf.html
• 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 :

• Pro Helvetia Cairo launched the open call “Parallel Sphere” for new innovative art projects by Arab artists : https://prohelvetia.org.eg/en/2020/06/12/open-call-parallel-sphere/
• Ettihajat – Independent Culture, Action for Hope and Mophradat launched the Art Lives Initiative to support artists residing in the Arab region : https://www.ettijahat.org/page/1084

SAUDI ARABIA :

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

MOROCCO :

• The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sports launches exceptional support program for Artists, Authors : https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2020/06/305851/morocco-launches-exceptional-support-program-for-artists-authors/

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 EMIRATES :

• 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
• The National Creative Relief Fund launched by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development in May 2020 has announced financial grants to 87 creative individuals and Small and Medium Enterprises, SMEs, operating in the cultural and creative industries : https://wam.ae/en/details/1395302848860

 

Rest of the world 

ARGENTINA :

• 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
• The Australia Council has announced a new fund of approximately $500,000 to support and invest in First Nations arts and cultural groups experiencing disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic : https://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/news/media-centre/media-releases/cherishing-first-nations-arts-and-culture-new-fund-to-support-covid-19-recovery/

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

JAPAN :

• Japan local governments financially aiding coronavirus-hit art, culture sector : https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/06/848d03c87daa-japan-local-govts-financially-aiding-virus-hit-art-culture-sector.html

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 adds $13m to initial emergency arts funding : https://www.creativenz.govt.nz/news/creative-new-zealand-adds-13m-to-initial-emergency-arts-funding
• A jobseekers programme for the creative sector and four new funds have been set up by the Government to help the arts and music industry recover : https://mch.govt.nz/support-arts-and-music-sector-recovery
• The government has announced more than $90 million for the arts sector, including an $18 million package to keep national museum Te Papa afloat : https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12335598

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
• Arts organizations launched a $10-million relief fund for artists affected by COVID-19, the Artist Relief fund : https://www.artsy.net/news/artsy-editorial-arts-organizations-launched-10-million-relief-fund-artists-covid-19
• 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/
• Five foundations pledged $1.7 billion in funding to social justice and the arts in response to COVID-19 : https://www.artsy.net/news/artsy-editorial-five-foundations-pledged-17-billion-social-justice-arts-funding-response-covid-19
• 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/
• 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