The Cancellation Fund for Creative Freelancers was intended to support creative freelancers working in the arts, screen and creative sectors who are experiencing immediate financial hardship due to the loss of income because of cancellations and deferrals caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In response to feedback regarding the scale and nature of the impact of ongoing Covid-19 restrictions on those who work in the arts, screen and creative industries, and together with the Scottish Government, we closed this fund on 23 January 2022 and have re-allocated the remaining funds of £6.7m to a new round of the Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers, along with an additional allocation of £1.3m, giving a total budget of £8m.
If you have previously applied to either the Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers or the Cancellation Fund for Creative Freelancers, you can apply for a further award of up to £2,000 from this new round of the Hardship Fund. If you are a new applicant, then you can apply for a one-off award of up to £2,000.
These funds are to support freelance creative professionals based in Scotland who work in the arts, screen and creative sector and who are experiencing immediate financial difficulty due to the cancellation or deferral of events because of COVID-19, that were due to take place in the period 27 November 2021 – 31 March 2022.
The fund offers a one-off award to those who are most deeply impacted and disadvantaged by the cancellation or postponement of activity because of the current emergency situation. This can include the cancellation or deferral of performances, productions, exhibitions and shows from which freelancers would have received income. This fund will not replace income lost through cancellation but will provide a contribution to partially offset its adverse impact.
The Scottish Government has committed £10m through Creative Scotland for creative freelancers who have lost income following the cancellation of work that was due to take place in the period 27 November 2021 - 31 March 2022 as a consequence of COVID-19.
You can request between £500 and £2000 to help offset the financial impact of cancellation of your activity.
You may also request access costs. You can find out more about access costs on page four of the guidance notes.
Applicants were asked to provide us with a CV and written evidence that you had a performance, exhibition or show planned and separate written evidence that it has been cancelled or deferred. We aim to pay eligible applicants within 20 working days of submission of the request.