$500 million total to ease pressures on culture and amateur sport
OTTAWA – The Canadian government today released details of its previously announced $500 million fund to help the cultural and sports industries weather the Covid-19 crisis.
Minister of Canadian Heritage Steven Guilbeault, today said partner organizations will be contacted so that funds can begin to flow. “Canadian Heritage is working closely with its partners – in particular, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Canada Media Fund, FACTOR, Musicaction, and Telefilm Canada – to distribute the funds as quickly as possible using existing channels,” reads the release.
The distribution of funding will include up to $326.8 million to be administrated by Canadian Heritage and divided among select departmental programs and portfolio agencies as well as key delivery organizations, specifically:
- $198.3 million will be provided to the beneficiaries of arts and culture funding via existing programs as well as other organizations with demonstrated needs;
- $72 million will be provided to the sport sector;
- $53 million will be provided to the heritage sector via the emergency component of the Museums Assistance Program; and,
- $3.5 million will be provided for Covid-related projects under the Digital Citizen Initiative.
- $55 million to be distributed by the Canada Council for the Arts;
- $115.8 to support the Canadian audiovisual sector, to be distributed by the Canada Media Fund ($88.8 million) and Telefilm Canada ($27 million).
Remaining funds will be given out based on needs.
“This targeted funding will help organizations maintain operations while continuing to support artists and athletes, and retain jobs,” reads the press release. “Many organizations in the culture, heritage, and sport sectors face barriers to accessing the already announced Government of Canada measures due to factors such as the cyclical nature of revenues, high rates of self-employment and contract work, and barriers to accessing credit.”
Please click here for the full details of the announcement.
In thanking the federal government for the new boost, CMF CEO Valerie Creighton said in a statement: “Screen-based industries generate $12.8B to Canada’s GDP and provide 181,000 well-paid jobs… The sector has been hugely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Between mid-March and June 30, the impact of shutdowns are an estimated production loss of $2.5B and 177,000 jobs.”
“The emergency funding announced by the federal government is part of a multifaceted funding ecosystem and will be allocated in a way which complements—not duplicates—other measures for which screen industry workers and companies are eligible.”
“These new funds will help companies in Canada’s film, television and interactive digital media sectors keep their doors open and keep their employees on the payroll,” added Christa Dickenson, executive director of Telefilm Canada in the release from the two organizations. “Throughout this period of confinement and physical distancing, we have seen companies explore creative ways to continue developing, collaborating, distributing and promoting screen-based content.”
“As the administrator of the CMF’s programs and the Canada Feature Film Fund, Telefilm will continue to work effectively and efficiently to ensure that this additional support is disbursed quickly. Now more than ever, the CMF and Telefilm will work hand-in hand to deliver this much-needed relief to our clients and the creative teams and crews they employ.”
Photo borrowed from Minister Guilbeault’s Twitter feed is a screen cap of him making the announcement today.
