WIREDGOV

As of today organisations in the culture and heritage sector can apply for financial support from the Welsh Government’s £53 million Cultural Recovery Fund.

Music venues; recording and rehearsal studios; Heritage organisations and historic attractions; accredited museums and archive services; libraries; events and their technical support suppliers; independent cinemas and the publishing sector will be able to bid for a share of £18.5 million.

The Eligibility Checker for the Cultural Recovery Fund has been live since 1 September.

A non-repayable grant of up to £150,000 (up to 100% of eligible costs) per organisation will be available via two application entry points:

• Under £10,000: quick process for smaller organisations based on eligible costs
• Between £10,000 to £150,000: more detailed process based on eligible costs.

The fund will close for new applications on 2 October.

There will also be a £7 million fund for freelancers to support individuals in the sector who have been impacted by the pandemic. The fund will open for applications on Monday 5th October. Individuals are asked to check their eligibility before the applications open by visiting Eligibility Checker for the Cultural Recovery Fund. More guidance on how to apply will be uploaded soon.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, recently said:

We recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges the pandemic is having on the very fabric of Welsh life and we applaud the resilience and creativity of these sectors. We have worked with the sector in order to deliver this funding, the eligibility tracker means that we can now move to process applications at pace to ensure that these organisations can access funding as quickly as possible. 

The freelance sector is such an important part of the Welsh economy – with approximately 12,800 freelancers working in the creative sector, and I’m delighted that we’re able to provide support – which is unique to Wales – with the fund for freelancers, which acknowledges the contribution made by these individuals to the creative sector in Wales.

A separate element of the Cultural Recovery Fund, worth £27.5 million, is being delivered through the Arts Council of Wales to support theatres and galleries. This fund was launched 17 August and applications are now closed, applicants are not able to apply for both Arts Council for Wales and Welsh Government Funding.