British Arts Council Provides Pounds Sterling 160 Million To Help Creative Industries

Illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Arts Council England (ACE) or the British Arts Council has prepared an emergency response fund worth 160 million pounds to help the creative industry during the COVID-19 or corona virus crisis.

This fund is provided to help cultural organizations, freelancers, and artists to survive (live) after closing venues, cancellation of events, and others.

The package will be broken down into three distinct parts, with £ 20 million going to creative practitioners and freelancers, £ 90 million to 828 organizations in the "national portfolio" including the National Theater and smaller touring theaters, and £ 50 million to organizations - organizations that are outside that portfolio.

The money, which is also expected to help artists create work "to encourage the people", will be drawn from the ACE emergency reserve and the suspension of a National Lottery project grant.

In a statement, ACE chairman Sir Nicholas Serota said: “Neither of us can hope to weather this storm alone, but by working together in partnership, I believe we can come up with a stronger, with shared ideas, way of working. new, and new relationships are forged at the local, national and even international levels. "

ANNOUNCEMENT: Emergency Response Package for # Covid19 crisis. Today we're announcing £ 160 million of investment for people and organizations in the cultural sector. Supporting you the best we can during this crisis remains our No.1 Priority: https://t.co/XTnQvtkFbn

- Arts Council England (@ace_national) March 24, 2020

Chief executive Darren Henley added: "Right now, our number one priority is to do everything we can to help individual artists and cultural organizations stay alive. It will be difficult, but we need them in their best form to use their creativity. to benefit the lives of people in villages, towns and cities across the UK once our communities begin the recovery process from this terrible virus.

“This is a scary time for all of us. However, when we distance ourselves from each other in daily life, I believe in the role of art and culture in helping to unite us all. "

In the world of music, shows, tours and festivals have been canceled or postponed worldwide, while album releases have also been suspended by musicians such as Kelly Lee Owens, Haim, Lady Gaga, and Declan McKenna.