Call for applications: COVID-19 relief fund for SA creatives
The Craft and Design Institute (CDI) through the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) is calling on South African small, medium and microenterprises (SMMEs), cooperatives and sole traders in the audio-visual, visual arts, crafts and design to apply for its COVID-19 relief fund.
DSAC together with the DSBD contributes an equal amount of money to set up a fund, which is worth more than R22m to provide relief to all South African organisations, enterprises and individual practitioners in the craft, design, visual arts and audio-visual sectors. The audio-visual sector covers support to producers, directors, art directors, camera operators, people involved in lighting, runners, sound, costume, hair and makeup, on-set photographers, post-production, and animation. This assistance also includes freelancers (independent contractors).
Lastly, the relief also extends to visual artists who are also defined as fine arts (including paintings, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics and drawing) and contemporary art (such as performance art and installations) and photography.
Interested individuals/sole traders and companies/organisations should apply here and here, respectively.
The submission deadline is 12 November.
Qualifying criteria for SMMEs, cooperatives and sole proprietors/sole traders:
- Businesses that can prove that their operations have been negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
- Sole proprietors/sole traders with a valid South African ID and tax clearance certificate, who can prove that their operations have been negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
All applicants must meet the following requirements:
- The company/professional practice must be 100% owned by South African citizens.
- At least 70% of its employees must be South African citizens.
- Priority will be given to businesses owned by women, the youth and people with disabilities.
- The company/practice must be registered and SARS compliant.
- The company/practice must be B-BBEE compliant.
Application process
Applications for access to the COVID-19 relief fund must be directed to the agency/hub in the province where the applicant resides.
The following documents must be submitted together with the application:
- Letter of motivation describing how COVID-19 has impacted the applicant’s professional company/practice and his/her future plans. This letter must not be longer than one page.
- Completed application form.
Professional practice/company information:
- Company profile or CV that demonstrates that the applicant or company was operational for more than a year prior to March 2020. Evidence of the applicant’s professional practice, e.g. photo of their work or links to website/social media pages.
- Written reference from a client or relevant organisation to certify that the applicant or company is a practitioner in the above-listed sectors, and samples of work.
- Latest annual financial statements or management accounts not older than three months from date of application or bank account statements from the last three months (where applicable).
Compliance documentation (*indicates where applicable to registered businesses):
- Certified copy of SA ID of primary applicant.
- Valid tax clearance certificate or tax PIN.
- FICA documents (e.g. municipal accounts, letter from traditional authority).
- Stamped three months' bank account statements.
- Cooperative and/or company registration certificates*.
A COVID-19 relief affidavit confirming:
- That the applicant has never been a beneficiary of COVID-19 relief or assistance, OR
- The applicants never received COVID-19 relief/assistance, in which case they should please indicate the source of the relief, the amount they requested, and the amount they received.
- The applicant’s demographic information (B-BBEE status, women, youth, disability).
- Number and citizenship of the applicant’s employees.
- Applicants must download and complete the COVID-19 relief fund form here and attach it in the application.
“The coronavirus pandemic caught everyone off guard,” Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Mr Nathi Mthethwa said. “It has tested our resolve and forced us all to think out the box in order to survive. The hardest hit was the creative sector. We, as a department are committed to ensuring that artists are supported as we gradually return to normality, albeit, under strict health protocol, and to pick up the pieces as we begin the journey to full economic recovery.”
Minister of Small Business Development Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said: “As the Department of Small Business Development we endeavour to promote and empower all SMMEs and cooperatives regardless of their sector but partnering with the National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture which is the most pertinent institution to support and promote our Artists and Crafters is a natural marriage.”
View the original call here.
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