Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth rolls out $55 million Arts and Culture Resilience Package (ACRP) to support the sector
As part of the Resilience Budget announced by DPM on 26 March 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) will invest $55 million through an Arts and Culture Resilience Package (ACRP). This seeks to protect the ecosystem, provide support and opportunities for arts and culture organisations and professionals, as well as develop longer-term capabilities for the post-COVID-19 recovery. It will promote the preparation of our arts and culture sector to seize the opportunities that will be available when the current situation improves. The ACRP is in addition to the $1.6 million announced at MCCY’s Committee of Supply debate on 6 March 2020.
The ACRP comprises four components:
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[Enhanced] Jobs Support Scheme for major companies and leading arts groups
The government will co-fund 25% on the first $4,600 of gross monthly wages of each local employee on their Central Provident Fund (CPF) payroll for nine months. This level of support will be increased to 75% for the month of April, in view of the heightened measures. All arts and culture organisations which are employers and who pay CPF contributions, will be eligible under this broad-based Job Support Scheme administered by the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). Additional jobs support for major companies, as well as other leading arts groups, will be announced at a later date.
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[Enhanced] Rental waivers for tenants on MCCY-owned properties
Eligible tenants, including commercial retail, F&B tenants, Volunteer Welfare Organisations, Social Service Agencies, and Registered Charities on MCCY-owned properties, will receive two months of rental waivers under ACRP. In addition, all non-residential tenants on government-owned properties who do not qualify for the two months of waiver will receive 1 month of rental waiver. Eligible tenants will be informed directly by their respective landlords of their eligibility.
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[Enhanced] Capability Development Scheme for the Arts (CDSA)
Launched on 16 March 2020, the CDSA is a time-limited scheme in support of artists and arts organisations during the downtime caused by the COVID-19 situation. The CDSA is available for a limited period to support arts self-employed persons (SEPs) and employees of arts organisations to upskill and grow capabilities through training programmes that take place in Singapore. From 8 April 2020, the CDSA was enhanced to benefit a wider range of arts organisations and professionals.
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[New] Digitalisation Fund (DF)
MCCY and its agencies will support arts and culture organisations and practitioners’ efforts to enhance the digitalisation of their work, and create new experiences for Singaporeans. The new DF will comprise:
- Digital Presentation Grant for the Arts, administered by NAC;
- Commissioned Work and Partnerships to support large-scale projects such as the digital presentation of key festivals and events; and
- Museums digitalisation, to make exhibitions and collections accessible through virtual platforms.
More details on the ACRP and NHB’s digitalisation efforts supported by the DF can be found here:
https://www.nhb.gov.sg/-/media/nhb/files/media/releases/new-releases/07-apr-2020-mccy-rolls-out-55-mil-arts-and-culture-resilience-package.pdf
Steering Singapore through the current series of challenges, Budget 2020 is geared to:
- Combat COVID-19
- Transform & Grow our Economy and Businesses
- Care for our People
- Secure Our Future
- Deploy our Strategic Asset
A summary of the measures is in the attached booklet. For more information on Budget 2020 and the support measures for Singaporeans, please visit: www.SingaporeBudget.gov.sg