(Updated on 30 April 2020)
In view of the continual worldwide risk of COVID-19, Hong Kong Arts Development Council will extend the affected period of the Scheme for two more months, i.e. originally from 29 January to 30 April 2020 extending to 30 June, while the funding amount remains the same. Moreover, the Scheme will accept applications from individual arts practitioners (i.e. Category D) with affected school touring work due to the epidemic. Individual arts practitioners with school touring work (including kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, tertiary institutes and special schools) commissioned/ engaged by Government Bureaux/ Departments and/or their Advisory & Statutory Bodies (e.g. Action Committee Against Narcotics, Corruption Prevention Advisory Committee of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, Standing Committee on Language Education and Research etc., excluding Leisure and Cultural Services Department) during the above affected period can apply for the subsidy.
Scheme Overview
Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) first launched the “Support Scheme for Arts & Cultural Sector” before Chinese New Year to strengthen support towards small and medium-sized arts organisations and arts practitioners whose activities and work were cancelled or impacted in 2019. The original budget is HK$5 million. Owing to the adverse impact of COVID-19, almost all arts events have been cancelled or postponed since February. The situation has gravely impacted the work and livelihood of local arts organisations and arts practitioners.
To address the pressing needs of the arts sector, the Government’s Anti-epidemic Fund has channelled HK$150 million through Home Affairs Bureau to support the arts sector, of which HK$50 million is allocated to HKADC to strengthen its “Support Scheme for Arts & Cultural Sector”, increasing the total budget to HK$55 million to help relieve the financial burden of the arts sector during this difficult period.
Beneficiaries and Funding Amount
In addition to providing assistance for arts organisations and practitioners funded by HKADC, the scheme also supports arts organisations and individual arts practitioners affected by closure of Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) or other legitimate non-LCSD cultural venues. The funding is to subsidise primarily arts organisations, groups and practitioners having work from February to June impacted by COVID-19, including performances, exhibitions, rehearsals, preparation and post-event work.
| Category | Beneficiaries | Original $5M Scheme (Application required) | Additional funding of $50M from the Anti-epidemic Fund | Funding Amount (HKD) | Quick Reference [Guide to Application (extract) and Application Form]
(Updated on 30 April 2020) |
| A | Grant recipients of HKADC’s 2019/20 Year Grant, Literary Arts Platform Project and Eminent Arts Group Scheme | Each can apply for a maximum of $50,000 | Direct subsidy $80,000 | Maximum of $130,000 |  |
| B | Projects funded by HKADC* | |
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| i) Project Grant (non-publication)**, Matching Fund Scheme | Each can apply for a maximum of $15,000 | Each project affected by the epidemic will receive a direct subsidy of $15,000 | Maximum of $30,000 | ||
| ii) Project Grant (publication) | Each can apply for a maximum of $3,000 | Each project affected by the epidemic will receive a direct subsidy of $3,000 | Maximum of $6,000 | ||
| Projects funded by HKADC iii) Cultural Exchange Scheme iv) Commissioned projects : - - Arts-in-School Partnership Scheme - Literary Arts Publication In Media Project - Hong Kong Literary Arts Archive |
Each project affected by the epidemic will receive a direct subsidy of $15,000 | ||||
| C | Arts projects not funded by HKADC | Each project affected by the epidemic may receive a subsidy of $15,000 by application | |
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| D | Individual arts practitioners | Each individual may receive a maximum of $7,500 by application | |
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*Not applicable for HKADC’s 2019/20 “Year Grant”, Literary Arts Platform Project”, or “Eminent Arts Group Scheme”.
** In the original Scheme, “Project Grant” excludes Cultural Exchange Grant.
How to Apply and Fund Payment
In light of the current situation, there is no deadline set for application until full disbursement of the funding or further notice. For arts organisations and practitioners with no application required, HKADC disbursed the funding by bank cheques in one go in late March, while those newly included projects funded by HKADC with direct payment support will be disbursed in mid/ late May. For arts practitioners and organisations that need to submit applications, they may submit their applications by email at supportscheme@hkadc.org.hk, or by mail/ in person to Hong Kong Arts Development Council at 10/F, 1063 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong from now on. Please mark “Support Scheme for Arts & Cultural Sector” on the envelope. Please send one application only by e-mail/mail/in person. In general, the Administration Office will process all acceptable applications and disburse the funding within approximately one month afterwards.
Assessment
All applications are assessed by the special panel of HKADC. HKADC reserves final discretion on arrangement of assessment and the assessment result (includes but not limited to the approved sum for each application).
Documents
| Document (Updated on 30 April 2020) | Download | |
| Guide to Application (full version) | |
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| FAQ | |
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Application Forms
| Forms | Download | |
| Category A – Grant recipients of HKADC’s 2019/20 “Year Grant”, “Literary Arts Platform Project” and “Eminent Arts Group Scheme” | |
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| Category B – Affected projects held in Hong Kong starting from 1 July 2019 and funded by HKADC’s “Project Grant” or “Matching Fund Scheme” | |
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| Category C – Arts projects not funded by HKADC (Updated on 30 April 2020) | |
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| Category D – Individual arts practitioners (Updated on 30 April 2020) | |
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Enquiries
Enquiries may be addressed to Hong Kong Arts Development Council by phone at 2827 8786 or email supportscheme@hkadc.org.hk.
