Arts Minister announces €50 million support for restricted events and venues
The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD has just announced the supports that will be made available to those in the live events industry who are baring the brunt of the current restrictions.
As of Tuesday, nightclubs are closed until January 9th and live events are restricted at 50% capacity and seated only.
The supports outlined are:
- €5m for seasonal musical theatre and pantomime scheme
- €34m for Live Performance Support Scheme
- €5m for Local Authorities artists and performance supports
- €5m adaptation grants for venues
- €1m for the Saint Patricks Festival 2022
From the government direct:
- €5m for the seasonal musical theatre and pantomime scheme (LPSS 2), funding will increase from €2m to €5m and the turnover requirement is being reduced to €100,000 from €300,000 with applications being accepted until the end of January 2022. This scheme is now open for applications.
- €20m for another strand of the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 3), specifically to support performances in December and January which may need to be cancelled, curtailed or rescheduled. This scheme will open for applications on Friday December 17th. Venues, including nightclubs that stage live performances, producers and promoters can apply for up to 50% of their eligible costs;
- A minimum of €14m for another strand of the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 4), to support performances being staged from February 2022 to June 2022. This scheme will open in January 2022. If further funds are required the Minister will seek additional funding from the Covid Contingency Fund.
- €5m for Local Authorities to support local artists and performances through the LLPSS (Local Live Performance Support Scheme). This will include funding for community and local pantomimes;
- €5m to continue the capital supports scheme (CECGS) to venues, including for ventilation upgrades and other Covid adaptations;
- €1m for the Saint Patrick’s Festival 2022.
The Minister is examining how further supports can be provided to the broader events sector. A further extension of the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) which supports businesses in the music sector will be announced in January. This scheme has provided grant support to businesses to cover costs up to the end of December.
More on the schemes as they become available.
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Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the cohost of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, event curator and producer of gigs, parties & events.