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Create NSW unveils COVID-19 support

Screen NSW head Grainne Brunsdon. 

To support small-to-medium organisations and businesses across the screen, arts, and cultural sector through the COVID-19 crisis, Create NSW has announced a series of new initiatives and repurposed funding, totalling $6.34 million.

Of particular relevance to the screen sector is a $700,000 slate development fund, which will allow NSW-based production companies and producers to apply for a maximum of $100,000 to develop a slate of three or more projects for TV drama, factual, features and online.

Screen NSW will also deliver $1.5 million over the coming months through existing early and advanced development funding, production finance, PDV rebate, screen industry and audience development and strategic opportunities rounds.

Create NSW will also put together a series of webinars, factsheets and ‘how to’ videos. Screen NSW has a webinar on cashflow forecasting with 113 Partners Consulting CEO Ian Murray on April 29, and held another on ‘screen survival’ with filmmaker and writer Monica Davidson earlier today.

More broadly, Screen NSW has also been running a survey to assess the impact of the pandemic on the screen sector, which closes at 5pm today.

“As soon as the impacts emerged, we acted to convene Roundtables for close consultation with both the sector and our representative Artform Boards, and these measures follow on from flexibility for funded recipients which have already been communicated to the sector,” said Create NSW executive director Chris Keely.

“Today we are announcing accommodation assistance, new support for creatives to engage with online platforms, and a suite of new initiatives that provide employment and development opportunities, and new audience engagement and skill-sharing for arts, screen and cultural organisations and individuals across the state.

“As we continue to look at further support across the sector, we are repurposing as much as we can within existing means to focus our attention on supporting the thousands of individuals and smaller organisations during this unprecedented time.”

The initiatives include:

  • Over $1 million for accommodation assistance – through a six-month rent and outgoings waiver that will immediately support 38 arts organisations housed across the Create NSW arts property portfolio of buildings.
  • $450,000 for new COVID-19 Support Round – a new arts funding program specifically targeted at those impacted by COVID-19. Funding is available across four program categories (Digitise, Creative Koori Digital, Health and Well-being and Regenerate events) to digitally deliver support for community and audience engagement outcomes in the immediate and long term – including new events that will premiere once restrictions are lifted.
  • $700,000 for new Screen Slate Development Fund – NSW production companies and producers can apply for a maximum of $100,000 to develop a slate of three or more projects for TV Drama, Factual, Features and Online.
  • $350,000 funding increase to Small Project Grants – this quick response grant mechanism offers grants from $500 to $5,000 towards projects. Allocated funding has been increased, and the program re-aligned to address those coping with COVID-19 impacts on artistic careers.
  • $180,000 for new rounds of Creative Leadership – six new fellowship opportunities (each valued at $30,000) will be offered for individual artists and groups to experience digital residency programs, professional virtual placements and professional development provided by leading NSW organisations including the Art Gallery of NSW, the State Library of NSW, Sydney Youth Orchestra, Hayes Musical Theatre and Byron Writers’ Festival.
  • Further arts industry support – Over $2 million in funding for Round 2 of Create NSW’s Annual Organisations, Creative Koori Projects and Projects will proceed, plus the Independent Arts and Cultural Organisations (Multi-year) and Local Government Arts and Cultural Programs will also continue.
  • Further screen industry support – Over $1.5 million delivered over coming months through existing Early and Advanced Development Funding, Production Finance, PDV Rebate, Screen Industry and Audience Development and Strategic Opportunities rounds of screen funding programs.
  • Webinars, factsheets and how-to videos – to support well-being and facilitate skills development for arts, screen and cultural workers during self-isolation, Create NSW will produce a range of webinars, factsheets and how-to videos to demystify digital platforms for performances, exhibitions and event presentations, and explain digital meeting and information platforms.