Cultural freelance fund opens for applications

Freelancers in the cultural sector who continue to face financial challenges as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak are able to apply for grant funding from Monday 17 May.

Support from the Wales Culture Recovery Freelancer Fund will be available to freelance professionals whose work has direct creative/cultural outcomes, who work in the arts, creative industries, arts and heritage, events, or culture and heritage sectors. Freelancers from the wedding and events industries are also eligible to apply in this round.

A grant of £2,500 is available per individual, to support with immediate cash flow.

Those who are employed part-time and also have a freelance professional creative practice will be able to apply but are advised that the grant is targeted at freelancers in most need of support. Income will be taken into account as part of the assessment.

You will not be eligible:

• If you are a freelancer working in the sport sector
• Freelancers who work in film and TV, video games, software and other digital entertainment industries are not the intended recipients of this support as these markets are now operating at normal or near normal levels. However some specific roles may still be affected and where this impact can be shown to be a result of Covid-19 restrictions, applications will be accepted.

This funding is specifically for creative/cultural subsectors and roles that have been forced to cease work and/or face difficultly restarting because of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions. Those in roles that have been able to continue at or near previous levels of activity with or without support should not apply.

Those who wish to apply should check their eligibility at the Business Wales website. You can also find out more information about the scheme on the Bridgend County Borough Council website.

Individuals who are eligible for the grant and wish to apply are asked to complete the application form on the council’s website. All eligible freelancers can apply, including those who have previously received support from this scheme.

In Bridgend County Borough, 104 applications were approved for funding under phases one, two and three with £260,000 being paid out. A further £207,500 was paid out in top-up grants in February.