Covid Recovery Fund for Culture open for applications

The Covid Recovery Fund for Culture, provided by Orkney Islands Council, is now open to applications from local arts and heritage organisations.

The aim of the fund is to support the sustainability of the cultural infrastructure within Orkney and to help stimulate activity to pre-pandemic levels – whether that be arts, heritage, or language (i.e. Orkney dialect).

Emma Gee is the Council’s Arts Officer: “This fund is in addition to our popular Culture Fund and is aimed at helping organisations innovate, regain and strengthen their contribution to Orkney’s rich and lively cultural landscape, post-pandemic.

“This is about inviting organisations with cultural offerings to tell us how the pandemic impacted on their income and reserves, and on their market and support base – and what financial support they are seeking to help them not only survive but thrive.

“I’d encourage anyone considering making an application to get in contact to discuss their ideas in advance of making an application, as we can also advise on other possible sources of support.”

The fund is managed by the Council’s Culture Service, with an advisory panel made up of Councillors and officers from across OIC’s leisure and culture services as well as Voluntary Action Orkney, Creative Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland.

The total available funds available to disperse to local organisations is £240,000. However, due to expected demand, applicants should be aware grants are anticipated to be in the range £1,000 to £10,000 (although larger submissions up to a cap of £50,000 will be considered), and that partial awards may be necessary.

The deadline for completed applications is 5pm on Friday 9 June 2023.

The guidance and application form are now online the council’s website at: www.orkney.gov.uk/CultureFund

To find out more, contact Emma Gee, OIC Arts Officer on 01856 873535 Ext 2406 or by email.