Minister Catherine Martin has launched a new 'Live Performance Support Scheme' to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters of live performances – in order "to provide employment to workers in the creative industries while also producing high quality live performances for the public".

In a statement issued by the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, it was recognised that "social distancing is financially unviable for many live performances," but noted that "this sector is proactively working to achieve the right balance and implement measures to enable their industry to reopen as soon as it is safe, practicable and viable to do so; and this scheme aims to support the live performance sector in achieving this."

The €6 million support scheme will offer "funding assistance in order to make live performances viable" and will also provide "financial support to defray additional production costs that may be caused by Covid-19."

Grants from the support scheme range from €10,000 to a €800,000, which can be used to fund eligible costs at at 75% funding rate.

For more information on how to apply for the grant, see here.