Third phase of Covid-19 fund for creative freelancers to open

A total of £230,000 has been paid out to 92 residents in Bridgend county borough during the first two phases of the cultural freelancer fund with the third phase opening on Monday.

Another £3.5m is being made available to support freelancers in the cultural and creative sectors across Wales who are facing financial challenges as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

The third phase of the fund for freelancers will open from 10am on Monday, November 23. The funding is part of an additional £10.7m announced by the Welsh Government for the wider Cultural Recovery Fund.

Individuals in the sub sectors of arts, creative industries, arts and heritage events, culture and heritage, whose work has direct creative and cultural outcomes, can apply for a £2,500 grant.

The council welcomes the additional funding for the creative and cultural industries, which have been particularly badly hit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This funding is already making a real difference to freelancers and organisations working in the sector after so many projects had to be postponed or cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions

Bridgend County Borough Council leader Huw David

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

Those who wish to apply should check their eligibility using the Business Wales Cultural Recovery Fund Grant checker.

You can also find out more information about the scheme on Bridgend County Borough Council’s Welsh Government business support webpage.

Individuals who are eligible for the grant and wish to apply are asked to complete the application form on the council’s website from November 23. 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.

The freelancer fund has supported 2,800 individuals so far across Wales and the additional funding will support another 1,400 people.