Freelancers working in Scotland’s cultural and events sectors will benefit from a new £21 million support package announced by the Scottish government in response to the rapid emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The Scottish government has unveiled a wider £100 million package to support businesses impacted by event cancellations. £21 million, including £1 million from existing funds earmarked for the sector, will be used to support freelancers and organisations in the cultural and events sectors.
£10.2 million of the funding will be set aside for cultural organisation and venues and will be administered through Creative Scotland. Creative Scotland will also administer £8 million to freelancers through the Cancellation Fund for Creative Freelancers. The remaining £2.8 million will be administered by EventScotland to support the sector’s wider supply chain.
Creative freelancers can apply to Creative Scotland for amounts of between £500 and £2,000. The fund will be administered in two £4 million stages, the first going live on January 6 2022. To be eligible, freelancers need to have had work due to take place from November 27 2021 – March 31 2022 either cancelled or postponed as a result of COVID-19.
Creative Scotland says: “This can include the cancellation or deferral of performances, productions, exhibitions and shows from which freelancers would have received income. This fund will not replace income lost through cancellation but will provide a contribution to partially offset its adverse impact.”
Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson commented: “Culture and events continue to be among the sectors hardest hit by COVID-19 as the emergence of a new variant is once again causing disruption and uncertainty. The steps we’re asking the public to take to minimise the spread of the virus are having a severe financial impact on the sector at a time when they were just beginning to recover from previous waves of the coronavirus.”
“In the past few weeks, both myself and Culture Minister Jenny Gilruth have been speaking to freelancers and representatives from culture and events organisations to ensure they get immediate support to meet their needs. This £21 million in additional funding is vital to support culture and events organisations and protect the livelihoods of the people who work in the sector.”
