COVID-19 National: Business, Non-Profits, Individuals – Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund

This program aims to provide capital to help production and event businesses who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to put on new festivals, concerts, tours and events as social distancing restrictions ease, including through innovative operating and digital delivery models. It seeks to support the delivery and presentation of activities across all art forms to audiences across Australia.

The program forms part of the Australian Government’s Arts and Cultural Development Program that supports participation in, and access to, Australia’s arts and culture through developing and supporting cultural expression. It was announced as part of the Creative Economy Support Package which aims to address urgent needs within the sector and complements existing whole-of-economy support and assistance measures already in place.

The objectives of the program are to:
- Assist companies in the arts and entertainment sector to present new or re-imagined activities which have been disrupted by the COVID-19 restrictions.
- Deliver new activities, opportunities and structural adjustments that have been developed in response to the COVID-19 restrictions, including innovative ways to deliver content and productions.
- Provide increased employment opportunities in the arts and entertainment sector and allied industries.
- Generate increased economic activity in the arts and entertainment sector and allied industries.
- Help build the longer-term financial sustainability of cultural and creative companies, including increased revenue-earning capacity.
- Provide creative and cultural experiences to audiences across Australia.

Grants between $75,000 and $2 million are available. Other smaller or larger grant amounts may be considered on a case-by-case basis, particularly for activities that target audiences in outer metropolitan, regional and remote areas.

Applicants are required to provide a financial contribution. There is no minimum or maximum amount of co-contribution, but the level of contribution is expected to be relative to the nature and scale of the activity, and higher co-contributions, including from states and territories, will be advantageous to the application.

A total funding pool of $75 million is available in 2020-21.

Eligible applicants are those whose primary purpose must be the arts and entertainment and must:
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Be registered for the purposes of GST (if applicable).
- Have an account with an Australian financial institution.
- Comply with all regulatory, industry and legal requirements in relation to copyright, licensing and employment.
- Be located in any part of Australia.
- Provide a co-contribution to the activity.
- Be one of the following entity types:
a) Incorporated organisations
b) A local government owned entity
c) A partnership
d) A joint (consortia) application with a lead organisation.
e) A not-for-profit organisation
f) An Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 20067
g) A sole trader with employees

Eligible activities are those that support cultural and creative events or activities that, in the absence of this funding, would be substantially less likely to proceed (due to constrained availability of funding to the applicant as a consequence of COVID-19), including:
- Cultural and creative events or activities, including innovative ways to deliver performances, exhibitions, tours and online delivery.
- Cultural and creative programming and promotion.
- Festivals.
- Purchasing or leasing essential equipment for events, such as sound or lighting equipment.
- Development of COVID-safe infrastructure and protocols.
- Community outreach activities such as workshops.
- Capacity-building activities that link to the objectives and outcomes of the program, supporting support an organisation to build long-term financial sustainability.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of eligible activities and expenditure.

The main assessment criteria include:
- The degree to which the grant will contribute to achieving the objectives and outcomes of the program.
- The demonstrated expertise and capacity of the organisation to undertake the grant activity, including in a COVID-safe manner.
- The demonstrated financial viability of the grant activity.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of the assessment criteria.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- A Commonwealth, State or Territory government agency or body (including government business enterprises).
- An individual (unless a sole trader with employees).
- An unincorporated association.
- An overseas resident/organisation.
- An organisation that is at risk of insolvency.
- Competitions, awards or Eisteddfods.
- Film and television production.
- Interactive games.
- Built or natural heritage projects.
- Performances by covers, tribute bands and DJs (except for producer DJs).
- Purchase of land.
- Insurance costs.
- Major capital expenditure (including major construction/capital works).

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of ineligible costs.