The Australia Council has today announced a Resilience Fund of approximately $5M for artists and arts organisations to support their livelihoods, practice and operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

CEO Adrian Collette AM said this new measure within the Council’s existing budget is essential during this critical period when the cultural and creative sectors are experiencing immediate and enormous challenges due to the impact of the virus.

“Last week the Australia Council suspended many investment programs and repurposed all available uncommitted funds from this financial year to immediately respond to the COVID-19 crisis. The Resilience Fund has been created to provide immediate relief to Australian artists, arts workers and arts organisations and support their livelihoods, practice and operations. We have redirected approximately $5M across three new programs: Survive, Adapt, Create.

In the last week we have also reviewed all our suspended programs. We are pleased to re-open applications for the Arts and Disability Mentoring Initiative and have extended the deadline for applications to midnight AEST, Tuesday 14 April. This is a significant priority area for the Council.”

The 2020 Resilience Fund includes three streams:

• Survive – small grants for individuals, groups and organisations to offset or recoup financial losses due to cancelled activity.
• Adapt – grants for individuals, groups and organisations to adapt their practice and explore new operating models.
• Create – grants for individuals, groups and organisations to continue to create artistic work and develop creative responses in a time of disruption.

Organisations that currently receive multi-year funding from the Australia Council are not eligible to apply. This includes National Performing Arts Partnership organisations, Four Year Funded organisations, and organisations funded under the Visual Arts and Craft Strategy.

Applications for the Resilience Fund quick response opportunities open on Friday 3 April 2020. Information will be available on the Australia Council website from the same date.

More information on the Arts and Disability Mentoring Initiative is available here.

Download an accessible version of this announcement here.