Fund to support creative freelancers affected by Covid-19

A new £7m fund is being launched on Monday, October 5 to support freelancers in the cultural and creative sectors who are facing financial challenges as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Individuals can apply for a £2,500 grant and are asked to check their eligibility before the application process opens by visiting the Eligibility Checker for the Cultural Recovery Fund.

The fund will be open to freelancers in the sub sectors of arts, creative industries, arts and heritage events, culture and heritage, whose work has direct creative and cultural outcomes.

Our creative and cultural industries have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic with projects having to be cancelled or postponed.

This Welsh Government funding is specifically for creative and cultural subsectors, and roles that have been forced to cease work and/or face difficultly restarting because of the impact of Covid-19 restrictions. It is there to support freelancers in the period from April 2020 - March 2021.

Bridgend County Borough Council leader Huw David

Announcing the fund earlier this week, the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “The freelance sector is such an important part of the Welsh economy – with a significant number of freelancers working in the cultural and creative sectors.

“I’m delighted that we’re able to provide support - to sustain our freelancers during this difficult period and acknowledge the contribution made by these individuals to the economy, our communities and the cultural and creative sectors in Wales.”

The grant seeks to complement other Covid-19 response measures to support organisations and businesses in Wales as part of the Cultural Recovery Fund.

The eligibility criteria for the grant is as follows:

• Facing financial challenges in the period from April 2020 - March 2021
• Freelancer professionals whose work has direct creative/cultural outcomes, who work in the four key sub sectors: The Arts; Creative Industries; Arts and Heritage Events; Culture and Heritage
• You must be operating in Wales
• You must be based within the local authority you are applying to

You are not eligible for this grant if:

• You have recently received funding from the Start-Up Grant launched in June 2020 to help new businesses survive the economic consequences of coronavirus (Covid-19);
• You are a freelancer who works in the sport sector.

Further information on the scheme including Freelancer Fund guidance webpage and a set of frequently asked questions is available on the Bridgend County Borough Council website.

To provide enough time for freelancers to apply the fund will be split into two phases, with Phase 1 operating for a short period before a second phase then follows.

Applications will be dealt with on a first come first served basis. This may lead to applications not being appraised after they have been submitted if the fund is fully committed.

Individuals who are eligible for the grant and wish to apply are asked to complete the application form from Monday 5 October.