Two weeks ago, the application window closed for Creative Scotland‘s £2.2 aid package for grassroots venues. The Scottish government has announced an additional £15 million in COVID-19 relief for a wider variety of organizations dubbed the Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund.
The sum is part of a £31.5 million total set aside by First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon on August 28th. Among the types of organizations eligible for the aid are commercial theaters, galleries, performing art spaces, festivals, comedy clubs, nightclubs, and even production facilities and music/dance companies – but they must have been operational in Scotland prior to April 2019. Creative Scotland will begin accepting applications on September 17th.
“The Culture Organisations and Venue Recovery Fund will aid a range of cultural businesses and help them weather the most critical challenges they face,” said Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop. “I’m grateful to Creative Scotland for the pace they’ve worked at to develop the funding and its distribution.”
Arts Council England has announced the results of their own grassroots recovery fund: a reported 135 organizations rescued. In the same week, the Dutch government set aside €482 million in cultural relief and France allocated €2 billion for their own culture sector.
More information on the The Culture Organisations and Venue Recovery Fund is available on the Creative Scotland website.
