COVID-19 Support
Newcastle Museum. Image: courtesy the museum.
COVID-19 has significantly impacted the arts, screen and culture sectors in NSW. To minimise the effects of the pandemic, the NSW Government is providing funding and support to practitioners and organisations across the State.
On this page, you will find links to resources on news updates, grants, and financial assistance from the NSW Government and the Australian Government, and a link to Create NSW resources on how to operate safely during COVID-19. You will also find links to other helpful websites and material from a range of other sites, including those concerning mental health and crisis management.
Jump to a section
- Latest news
- NSW Government COVID-19 support for arts, screen and culture
- NSW Government COVID-19 economic support
- Federal Government COVID-19 support for arts, screen and culture in Australia
- COVID-19 safety rules and guidance for arts, screen and culture in NSW
- Useful resources
Latest news
- Get the latest information on the NSW Government’s response to COVID-19.
- Sign up to Create NSW’s eNews to stay informed of the latest in COVID-19 support.
- Read Create NSW’s latest news.
NSW Government COVID-19 support for arts, screen and culture
To support NSW’s arts, screen and cultural sectors during COVID-19, the NSW Government is providing targeted funding programs, including:
- Targeted support for individuals and groups of up to $5,000, and up to $10,000 for organisations in the small-to-medium sector, in NSW who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic through the COVID Development Grants.
- $75 million NSW Performing Arts COVID Support Package
- $50 million Rescue and Restart package for NSW arts and cultural organisations.
- $1 million in digital adaptation grants of up to $5,000 for Creative Kids Providers.
- New funding initiatives using existing and repurposed funding totalling $6.34 million to support independent artists and small to medium arts, screen and cultural organisations.
- Screen NSW’s Slate Development funding up to $100,000 for eligible NSW production companies.
- See Create NSW’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program and Screen NSW’s funding, incentives and advice for information on all the latest opportunities for support.
NSW Government COVID-19 economic support
NSW Government has a range of general response measures to help businesses, organisations and individuals.
Federal Government COVID-19 support for arts, screen and culture in Australia
The Australian Government announced a $250 million package on 25 June 2020 to support artists and organisations to get back in business following the disruptions caused by COVID-19. Learn more about the Federal Government’s COVID-19 support for arts, screen and culture in Australia.
COVID-19 safety rules and guidance for arts, screen and culture in NSW
Guidance on NSW Public Health Orders affecting the arts, screen and culture sectors in NSW and how to safely reopen and operate during COVID-19.
Useful resources
General advice and support
- Australian Government Department of Health website
- NSW Government main page for COVID-19 resources
- NSW Health COVID-19 resources in different languages
- NSW Health COVID-19 Aboriginal health resources
- NSW Health COVID-19 easy-read resources
- Aboriginal Affairs’ COVID-19 and Aboriginal Communities – Essential Information
- Safe Work Australia’s information on COVID-19 in the workplace; includes instructions on what to do in case of COVID-19 incidents
- SafeWork NSW COVID-19 resources for employers and workers
- Live Performance Australia’s COVID-Safe planning guidelines
- Screen Australia’s COVID-Safe guidelines
- FAQs for artists affected by COVID-19 from Arts Law Centre of Australia
- I Lost My Gig Australia ongoing survey
- A database of informal aid groups for artists state by state collated by Australian Mutual Aid Database
Mental health resources
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
- Support Act 1800 052 690. A charity delivering crisis relief services to artists, crew and music workers that impacts their ability to work including mental health resources through their wellbeing helpline
- Free mental health webinars for Australian entertainment industry workers from Entertainment Assist
Crisis management
- An example of how Circa managed the crisis from online arts magazine ArtsHub.
- Tips for small business to prepare for COVID-19 from CPA Australia.
Financial assistance
The Australian Banking Association has outlined 3 key stages to repayments for eligible business owners who continue to experience financial difficulty as a result of COVID-19. This includes options to pay in full, make partial payments or access further hardship assistance. Customers will need to contact their financial institutions to discuss the options available to them.
- With the continued support of the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts, Support Act is now offering COVID Cash Crisis Relief Grants called “MusicKeeper/ CrewKeeper”. These one off cash grants of $2,000 ($2,700 for families with dependent children) are intended to cushion the blow for artists, artist managers, crew and music workers from all genres who were receiving Jobkeeper and Jobseeker payments throughout 2020/21 and who remain largely unable to earn income due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
- The Actors Benevolent Fund of NSW is able to offer small measures to help relieve pressure for members of the performing arts community during the COVID-19 crisis.
- An example of how Circa managed the crisis from online arts magazine ArtsHub. (This content is only available to members of ArtsHub)
- Tips for small business to prepare for COVID-19 from CPA Australia.
More information
- NSW Government COVID-19 latest updates
- There are a number of ways to get help in your language. NSW Health has translated COVID-19 resources which you can access here
- treasury.gov.au
- australia.gov.au
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