COVID-19 Blog Archives - SMIA

The Recovery Loan Scheme has been launched to provide additional finance to those businesses that need it. It is open to help businesses of any size access loans and other kinds of finance so they can recover after the pandemic and transition period. From 6 April, businesses can access loans varying in size from £25,000, up to a…

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The ‘Stay at Home’ rule in Scotland will be replaced by the ‘Stay Local’ message for no more than three weeks from Apr 2, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.

The Scottish economy could completely regain ground lost during the Covid-19 pandemic within the next two years, according to a best-case scenario put forward today.

Executive Director of SMIA Jason Edwards reflects on the challenges past year and how the organisation will support the industry in this time of uncertainty and change:

The Scottish Government’s £9million Hardship Fund for Creative Freelancers, delivered by Creative Scotland and Screen Scotland, will re-open for applications at 2pm, Tuesday 2 March 2021.

The Musicians’ Union (MU) and The Ivors Academy have released joint research revealing how the majority of shielding musicians, songwriters and composers who we surveyed do not feel they can return to work until they are vaccinated.

Scottish retail, hospitality, leisure and aviation businesses will not pay non-domestic rates throughout the next financial year, under plans announced by Finance Secretary Kate Forbes.

#WeMakeEvents has announced a new campaign in a bid to urge the UK Government to provide relief for the struggling live events sector during the coronavirus pandemic.

Eligible venues can now apply for emergency funding for the Grassroots Music Venues Stabilisation Fund, delivered through Creative Scotland.

Free Courses in Scotland are offering a range of free training opportunities, including Digital Marketing, Event Planning, IT user skills and Understanding Mental Health.

The National Youth Arts Advisory Group (NYAAG) are looking to find out what young people’s priorities are within the Arts and Culture sector and how young people can get involved in decisions that are made as the sector recovers from COVID-19.

Details about the new restrictions in Scotland with specific reference to activities relating to those working across the music industry.

Financial support to event businesses critical to Scotland’s events sector is now available through the Pivotal Event Businesses Fund.

The Fruit Tree Foundation ‘Whole Lotta Roadies’ project fund is now open to live touring crew who live in Scotland.

Artists interested in applying to the Help Musicians Transmission Fund can now apply for a funding phone session.

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) has written to the Chancellor asking him to extend Government-backed insurance schemes to festivals and live music events or face them disappearing from our fields and cities for good.