• The arts sector will receive a S$20 million boost to tide it through the Covid-19 pandemic
• There will be new grants supporting collaboration between arts freelancers and businesses looking to transform
• An existing grant to defray operating costs of arts organisations and subsidies for venue hire will be extended

SINGAPORE — The arts industry will receive another S$20 million boost to support it through the pandemic, as live performances and events resume gradually.

The Arts and Culture Resilience Package rolled out last year will receive a fresh round of funds for two new grants, including one for freelancers, as well as existing schemes.

Announcing the latest enhancements during the debate on his ministry’s budget in Parliament, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Edwin Tong, noted that the pandemic has had a “profound impact” on a sector which thrives on having a presence on stage and in the audience.

“While live performances resume safely in Phase Three (of Singapore's exit from its circuit breaker), the return of capacity audience will take some time. This has to be balanced against the needs to keep Singapore safe,” said Mr Tong.

“We will continue to do what we can to safeguard livelihoods and retain capabilities. A further S$20 million in support measures will be provided to enhance the Arts and Culture Resilience Package,” said Mr Tong.

The package had initially provided S$55 million to a sector hard hit by cancelled events and performances.

Mr Tong said that the new grant for arts freelancers will help to enhance support for self-employed persons across the sector to collaborate on projects with one another or with arts organisations. 

“We recognise that freelancing, or self-employment, adds spontaneity and innovation to the arts ecosystem, and this grant is aimed at preserving this.”

At the same time, a new Business Transformation Fund, which includes a grant for businesses, will support the transformation of arts and culture organisations, as well as their recovery and sustainability post-pandemic, said Mr Tong. 

Separately, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) will seek a second top-up for the Cultural Matching Fund, which provides dollar-to-dollar matching with private cash donations to cultural groups.

New grant for arts freelancers

• The new grant, called Self-Employed Person Grant, will support arts and culture freelancers who are collaborating on projects
• Applicants may receive up to S$50,000 for each project
• The grant aims to create more work opportunities for freelancers
• It is open to Singaporeans and permanent residents, as well as arts and culture organisations that collaborate with freelancers
• The National Arts Council will prioritise projects that are digital in nature, involve capability development and benefit a large number of freelancers
• The grant will be launched by June

New grant to transform arts and culture businesses

• The new Business Transformation Grant will support the transformation of digital and non-digital aspects of a business  
• For example, organisations can use the grant to find new ways to engage audiences, or use it to engage consultants who can propose ways to monetise digital arts content
• Company-specific business transformation efforts can receive a grant of up to S$30,000 for each project
• Projects involving multiple arts organisations or with potential for wider industry spin-offs can receive up to S$200,000 per project
• The grant will be launched by this June

Extension of operating grant for arts sector

• The second tranche of an operating grant to help the arts sector defray its operating costs will be disbursed in July

• The first tranche was disbursed from January to March this year

• With more economic activities resuming, the grant will be reduced from the current S$50,000 or S$75,000 issued to each organisation, to S$35,000 for each organisation 

• The National Arts Council and other administering agencies will reach out to eligible organisations in due course

Extension of subsidy for venue hire

•  MCCY will extend the 80 per cent venue hire subsidy for arts groups for another three months from April to June this year

•  The subsidy currently covers venues such as the Esplanade, National Gallery Singapore and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre

• With the extension, more venues will be covered, with details to be provided at a later date

 Review of Cultural Matching Fund

• MCCY will work with the Finance Ministry to review and top-up the Cultural Matching Fund

• Set up with S$200 million in 2013, the fund provides dollar-for-dollar matching for private cash donations to eligible arts and heritage charities

• It was topped up again in 2017 with S$150 million

• Details on revisions to the scheme and top-up amount will be announced next year