COVID-19 National: Non-Profits – COVID-19 Arts Sustainability Fund

This program aims to provide 'last resort' funding assistance to significant Australian Government-funded arts organisations that are assessed to be at imminent risk of insolvency as a direct result of COVID-19, having taken all reasonable action to maintain their financial position.

It forms part of the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Creative Economy Support Package to help restart the creative economy as it rebuilds from the impacts of COVID-19.

The intended outcomes of the program are:
- Significant Commonwealth-funded performing arts and culture organisations remain solvent.
- Australian communities continue to benefit from the work of significant Commonwealth-funded organisations as the key employers of Australian artists and art workers, leading presenters of high-quality work and as the trainers of Australia’s upcoming performing artists.

The maximum value of the grant will be the subject of negotiation with the organisation based on financial information provided with the application. It is anticipated that most grants will be between $100,000 and $5 million, depending on the complexity of the organisation’s operations and financial and cashflow position.

A total funding pool of $35 million is available in 2020-21.

Eligible applicants must be an arts organisation that is currently party to, or due to enter into, a multi-year funding agreement with the Australian Government, either through the Australia Council or the Office for the Arts in the Department under one or more of the following programs:
- National Performing Arts Partnership Framework
- Four Year Funding Program 2021-24
- Four Year Funding Program 2017-20
- Visual Arts and Craft Strategy 2016-21
- Cultural Development Program for the National Performing Arts Training Organisations

Eligible activities are those that support the continuing operation of the arts organisation in accordance with the grant agreement at the time of each claim.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Risk of insolvency as a result of COVID-19.
- Likelihood of ongoing viability, if grant is provided.
- Significance and contribution to the Australian arts ecology.

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

The following are ineligible for funding:
- A statutory body under Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, including but not limited to national cultural institutions and performing arts companies.
- An arts organisation with a one-off, project, annual or multi-year funding agreement with the Australian Government, either through the Australia Council or the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications, under any program or initiative not listed in Section 4.1 of the Guidelines.
- Any activity outside the scope agreed with the Department, as set out in the grant agreement and in each successful claim.
- Expenses that can be recovered from alternative Commonwealth or State Government programs, for example meeting staffing costs that can be supported under the Commonwealth JobKeeper Payment.