A €25 million state fund – Live Performance Support Scheme – is open for applications and it is envisaged the scheme will provide work for thousands of musicians, performers, promoters, crew and support staff in the beleaguered sector.
Live Performance Support Scheme Overview
Launched by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in March 2021, the Live Performance Support Scheme 2021 has funding of €25 million to assist commercial venues, promoters and producers to employ artists and musicians of all genres, performers, technicians and other support staff in the live performance sector.
The scheme involves paying of grants in arrears, with grant recipients claiming costs after they have staged the event, which may cause issues for many applicants
Who can Apply?
This scheme is aimed at established commercial producers and promoters that create live performances and have a proven record of accomplishment in the live performance sector. Venues with a proven record of employing local working bands and electronic music may also apply with proposals that include these artists.
Eligibility Criteria
- Show a proven track record of live performances
- Plan to hold a live performance/event that will conclude on or before 30 September 2021
- Be tax compliant
- Not be funded by the public sector from 2018 – 2020 (excluding COVID-19 supports)
- Only 1 application will be considered, initially, for each project promoter
The scheme is open to those looking to:
- support the creation of employment and wellbeing opportunities in the culture, creative and music industries and the continued creation of high quality artistic output
- address the large gap left by the absence of income from live performances
- support performances/work that will conclude on or before 30 September 2021
- support commercial venues, producers and promoters in the culture sector (for example: music, entertainment and theatre)
- support music professionals in all genres and aim to ensure that Irish musicians, lighting and sound engineers, PR, media, agents, labels and publishers can continue to develop and share their work in the context of COVID-19 restrictions
Amount Payable
The scheme offers support to live performances that occur before the end of September 2021 and awards will range from €10,000 upwards.
Application and Key Dates
Applications are now invited for this scheme. Application forms, guidance on the application process and further information can be found on the department’s website.
The closing date for applications is 1pm on 14 April 2021.
Further information.
- The Event Industry Association of Ireland hosted a free webinar on the Live Performance Support Scheme 2021 on 23rd March. Representatives from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media also attended and provided an introduction to this scheme, information in relation to the application form and answered questions. A recording of this webinar may be accessed here
- Live Performance Support Scheme FAQs ( Updated 30 March 2021)
The Music Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme
As a further support measure for those in the live music entertainment industry, Government has announced funding of up to €14m for a new scheme to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19 and that do not qualify for other business supports.
The main features of this new Music Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) will see support offered by way of two levels of flat payments depending on turnover of the business:
- €2,500 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover of €20,000 – €100,000
- €5,000 for businesses with a VAT-exclusive turnover in excess of €100,000
The scheme is expected to open in April and self-employed businesses – whether sole traders, partnerships and incorporated entities operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector – are eligible to apply. We will keep you updated as further details become available.
If you have question on this article or any aspect of current supports available to businesses, contact Jamie O’Hanlon at info@avidpartners.ie or call us on 0818 303 087.
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