Second phase of government's National Creative Relief Programme to offer grants of up to Dh75,000 to support freelancers and SMEs

The National Creative Relief Programme, which offers grants to freelancers and small businesses in the creative field that were financially affected by the coronavirus pandemic, announced a second phase with larger grants available.

Launched in May by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, the programme supported 50 people and 37 companies in its first phase, giving funds between Dh15,000 and Dh50,000. Now, in its second phase, the programme is providing financial grants between Dh15,000 to Dh75,000 for people and small businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

The programme also added a category for business with 10 to 20 employees.

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, said that the ministry continued to study the cultural field and how its creative industries are being affected by the crisis caused by Covid-19.

"We saw an urgent need to launch a second stage of the programme and include a category of companies with 10 to 20 employees," she said.

"We increased the financial value of the grant to a maximum of Dh75,000 in order to maintain the sustainability of these companies, and ensure their growth and development in the creative market to drive the process of cultural development and knowledge sharing that comes at the forefront of the UAE’s development pillars.

“The creative sector is the most resilient and powerful in the region, thanks to the close co-operation between different institutions that enrich the cultural scene in the country and ensure the competitiveness of the creative economy in the UAE. Many creative communities have provided support programmes and economic incentives to encourage entrepreneurs and creatives to overcome the challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis.”

Once applications to the programme are received, they are reviewed and evaluated by a committee that looks at specific criteria including size of loss, the amount of financial setback and the production of creative content in the UAE during 2019.

The programme is open to UAE residents and Emiratis who meet the criteria.

The programme covers the following industries:

• Natural and cultural heritage: museums, monuments and historical places, natural heritage, cultural education, intangible cultural heritage
• Performing arts and celebrations: performing arts, music, festivals and exhibitions
• Visual arts and crafts: fine arts, photography, crafts and reproduction
• Books and journalism: writing, books and magazines, archives, libraries
• Audio and interactive media: films, design and services, video, television and radio, interactive media, electronic games

Applications for the second phase of the National Creative Relief Programme will open from Wednesday, July 1, to Tuesday, July 14, through the ministry's website.