The NSW Government through Create NSW is supporting 70 recipients with more than $650,000 funding as part of initiatives specifically targeted to the small to medium sized arts and cultural sector impacted by COVID-19.
Funding will be delivered to NSW independent artists and small to medium arts and cultural organisations across four program categories – Digitise, Creative Koori Digital, Health and Wellbeing and Regenerate.
Create NSW Executive Director Chris Keely said, “I’m thrilled that recipients across many artforms and organisations will receive funding from these initiatives developed in response to COVID-19.
“Artists and organisations across the State will now be able to deliver projects digitally, support their communities and ensure audience engagement in the immediate and long term – including presenting new events that will premiere once it is safe to do so.
“The NSW Government recognises the impact these uncertain times have had on the arts and cultural sector and this funding package is focused on supporting the continued work of the sector. The strength of projects demonstrated by applicants has resulted in funding of over $650,000 delivered to the NSW small to medium sized arts and cultural sector, which is an increase from the $450,000 originally committed for this initiative.
COVID-19 support initiatives snapshot:
- Creative Koori Digital Initiative will support 11 Aboriginal arts and cultural organisations and projects through more than $106,000 in funding.
- Health & Wellbeing Initiative will see 13 recipients receive $121,157 in total funding to support projects focused on mental health, elderly care, Aboriginal wellbeing, and people with disability from across NSW.
- Regenerate Regional Event Initiative will support 11 local artists and projects with $110,000 in funding. The artists and projects have a particular focus on music or performance and a majority reside in areas recently affected by the bushfires.
- Digitise Initiative will present 35 recipients with a funding total of $320,887 to create, develop and present creative practice and programming online and through virtual means.
A full list of COVID-19 support recipients is available here.
