£15 million funding to save Scotland’s cultural venues
Galleries, theatres, comedy clubs, nightclubs and festivals across Argyll and Bute have less than a week to apply for a share of £15 million of funding from the Scottish Government.
The pot of money called the Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund aims to provide emergency support to organisations unable to trade due to the coronavirus restrictions.
Applicants can seek funding of between £10,000 and £150,000, and grants of up to £250,000 are available on exception.
The aim is to protect jobs and support those organisations threatened by insolvency.
Fiona Hyslop MSP, the Scottish Government’s culture secretary, said: ‘It’s been an extremely difficult time for the culture sector this year.
‘We’ve done everything we can to alleviate some of the immediate challenges but we know many businesses will continue to struggle until they can fully reopen.’
The fund is looking for applications from organisations ‘critical to the cultural life of Scotland’ and whose existence is threatened by the restrictions.
Eligible organisations include galleries, commercial theatres, performing arts spaces, festivals, comedy clubs and nightclubs, along with music and dance companies.
Iain Munro, chief executive officer, said: ‘The challenges presented to the culture and creative sector by the Covid-19 pandemic are only too real and are not going to go away quickly or easily.
‘That’s why this additional emergency funding from the Scottish Government is so welcome.
‘Our top priority is the delivery of these funds to the sector as quickly as possible.’
The online application portal went live at noon yesterday (Thursday), and the deadline for applications is a week later, on Thursday September 24 at noon.
Applications will be assessed throughout September and October with decisions made in November.
For more information, visit creativescotland.com