The Federal Government announces $250M in emergency funds for Arts & Culture sectors
The Federal Government announces details about the allocation of $500M in emergency funds for Heritage.
- CEWS will be extended past June
- $250M will be distributed to the Arts & Culture sectors via existing agencies
The Canadian Federal Government has announced Emergency Support Fund for Cultural, Heritage and Sport Organizations: next steps to support the industry impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. You can find the press release here.
- The goal of the Fund is to protect jobs and support business continuity for organisations whose viability has been negatively affected. It is designed to complement the other federal government measures in response to COVID-19, including the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP), and the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program.
- The Prime Minister just announced that the wage subsidy program will be extended beyond June. This may help organisations that did not qualify for the CEWS to now access the program as we enter the peak season for productions and presentations. You can apply to the CEWS here.
- $198.3 million will be allocated to the arts and culture sector through existing funding programs at Canadian Heritage.
- $55 million will be distributed through Canada Council for the Arts (CCA) in order to help artistic organisations that support artists.
- We will use a two-phased approach to speed up the distribution of funds:
- Phase 1 is for funding recipients who are projecting a significant financial impact as a result of the pandemic:
- A formula-based top-up will be provided to existing recipients through Canadian Heritage’s arts and culture programs, which include the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, Canada Arts Training Fund, and Building Communities through Arts and Heritage Program. To simplify the process, current recipients of targeted programs will only need to fill out an attestation. Once this document has been received and reviewed, funding fill flow shortly thereafter. Clients will be able to apply for up to 25% of recently approved funding. The minimum amount awarded will be $5,000.
- Like Canadian Heritage, the CCA will use a formula-based approach to deliver the funds. Clients will be able to apply for up to 25% of recently approved funding.
- If your organisation receives funding from more than one participating department or agency, you may only request funding from one of these organisations for support from the Emergency Support Fund. Canadian Heritage and the CCA will coordinate their funding responses to avoid double funding.
- Phase 2 will provide temporary support to other organisations, which include those in the arts and culture that do not currently receive funding from Canadian Heritage, the CCA, and our other participating organisations. Further details on Phase 2 will be announced in the coming weeks.
- Phase 1 is for funding recipients who are projecting a significant financial impact as a result of the pandemic:
Here are the links to helpful documents on our Emergency Fund:
News release
Backgrounder
FAQ