Scottish government announces grants for arts and culture freelancers

Grants totalling £5m for creative freelancers are among new funding for the arts and culture sector announced by the Scottish government.

The finance is part of the £94m allocated to Scotland is the UK's government's £1.57bn package to help cinemas, theatres, music venues, museums, art galleries and other arts businesses deal with the impact of coronavirus.

The new schemes, which are administered by Creative Scotland, are as follows:

• The £5m Creative Freelancer Hardship Fund is aimed at creative freelancers who normally work in the culture sector, but whose work has been impacted by COVID-19. Creative Scotland said it is "working to appoint partners to ensure a wide spread of coverage". Applications will open in early October.

• The £3.5m Independent Cinema Recovery and Resilience Fund helps independent cinemas re-establish and adjust their business models in response to coronavirus. It will open on 14 September.

• The £15m Culture Organisations and Venues Recovery Fund supports organisations providing opportunities for cultural engagement that have been unable to trade. It includes galleries, performing arts spaces, commercial theatres, comedy clubs and nightclubs as well as production facilities, music and dance companies. Eligibility criteria and guidelines for applying will be published on 10 September. The fund will open on 17 September and awards will be made by the first week in November.

• The £5m Sustaining Creative Practice Fund supports artists to continue developing new creative work that will make a significant contribution to Scotland's recovery from COVID-19. This includes £1.5m for the Culture Collective programme which supports organisations employing freelance artists to work in and with communities across Scotland. The remaining £3.5m will be added to Creative Scotland's existing open fund which is now open for applications from individuals.

• The £3m Youth Arts Fund is targeted and open funding for youth music and wider youth arts organisations, a scheme to devolve grants locally to artists who work with young people and small grants delivered directly to young people to support them fulfil their creative ambitions.

Culture secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "It's been an extremely trying time for everyone in the culture and heritage sectors over the last few months.

"The major issues presented by the pandemic are not going away but as we slowly start to reopen, this funding will provide much needed emergency support and aid the recovery.

"As extensive as this package of support is, we know there will still be more needed. Culture and heritage are vitally important to all of our lives in Scotland, at this time more than ever. Without significant borrowing powers, there is only so much the Scottish government can do.

"I urge the UK government to consider extending the furlough scheme, to ensure longer term support as we continue to navigate this crisis."