Funding for Wales’ Arts, Culture and Sports Sectors During COVID-19 Outbreak

Funding for Wales’ Arts, Culture and Sports Sectors During COVID-19 Outbreak

Support for jobs and businesses within Wales’ creative, culture and sports sectors has been announced, as many of these industries are struggling during the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.

The Welsh Government has announced a package of measures to support the creative industries, culture and sport sectors, which are feeling the immediate impact of COVID-19.

More than £18 million is being made available through the Welsh Government, the Arts Council for Wales and Sport Wales to help support these sectors in safeguarding their businesses and jobs.

The package includes:  

£7 million Arts Resilience Fund led by the Arts Council of Wales. Working with the Arts Council, this fund will support artists and arts organisations most in need and least likely to benefit from other support programmes. Further announcements will be made about how the fund will be distributed.

£8 million Sport Resilience Fund. This will be used to support sports clubs and partner networks which play a role in ensuring the nation is able to remain active and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that sport brings. The fund will be led by Sport Wales.

£1 million Creative Wales Fund. This will provide support for grassroots music venues to respond to immediate pressures (up to £25,000 per business), and additional support for the TV and publishing sectors to allow them to consider future opportunities. Examples will include working on new content ideas for TV and new digital experiences.

£1 million Cultural Resilience Fund. This is for museums, collections, conservation services, archives and community and public libraries to respond to short-term pressures and recovery actions on a grant application basis.

£750,000 Emergency Relief Fund. This will support the smallest and most vulnerable independent sports sector, museum and heritage organisations with cash flow and other critical issues. This includes two grant programmes administered by the Welsh Museums Federation and Sport Wales.

£250,000 Digital Library Resources. This will enable public libraries to provide additional digital resources to the public and gives people resources to read and engage with whilst self-isolating.

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

‘These are uncertain times for business and organisations across Wales and we recognise the massive and unprecedented challenges coronavirus is having on the fabric of Welsh life.

‘The Welsh Government is committed to doing everything possible to support the resilience, creativity and partnership which is being shown by the sector.

‘Taking this further step will enable this sector to withstand this difficult time and to hopefully thrive again – and bring communities together once more when the emergency has passed.’