COVID-19 - Arts and culture - Overview of support measures for artists

The bridging fund for artists was extended via a new regulation until 30 April 2022, with the maximum amount of €1,800 to apply for.

The COVID-19 fund was extended to included a fifth phase (see update from 2 August 2021 on the fourth phase), running from 17 January to 30 June 2022. A maximum amount of €1,000 may be applied for.

Amid a further lockdown in Austria, the bridging fund for artists (see updates from 7 October 2020 and 22 April 2021), at a current budget of €150 million, was further increased. In 2022, its budget is to reach €175 million.

The maximum funding for the third quarter of 2021 was at €1,800, in the form of a one-off payment. From 6 December 2021 onwards, applications for the months of November and December are possible, at a maximum amount of €2,000. Further applications for 2022 will be possible, details are currently worked out.

Phase 4 of the KSVF's COVID-19 fund started on 2 August 2021 and finishes on 31 December 2021. During this time-period, a one-time payment of €1,000 can be applied for - depending on the budget available. The fund is intended to support only those artists and cultural mediators who still suffer from an existence-threatening loss of income despite opening measures for events that had been implemented.

On 15 June, Federal State Secretary for Arts and Culture Ms Mayer announced the extension of the bridging fund for artists concerned by the Corona crisis by one further quarter (30 September 2021). For each month, €600 may be applied for (total of €1,800 for July-September) until 31 October 2021.

On 22 April 2021, the National Council has approved to increase the bridging fund for artists by €20 million, thus reaching a total budget of €140. Applications for both the bridging fund and the COVID-19 fund are possible until 30 June 2021 (subject to budgetary resources).

In February 2021, the COVID-19 fund was increased by a further €20 million, thus doubling the budget to €40 million. The bridging fund for artists was increased by €10 million and now has a budget of €120 million.

The European Commission approved of the national "protective umbrella" for the event industry, which has suffered severely from the crisis. The budget lies at €300 million and is intended to provide an incentive and security for the future planning of events (e.g. sports events, cultural events, congresses, trade fairs and markets). The umbrella ensures that costs which cannot be cancelled are reimbursed if an event needs to be canceled. Eligible costs are "non-cancelable" expenses for services provided by third parties (e.g. suppliers, technology, catering, artists, bar, service, florist, event location, cancellation costs, advertising cost subsidies) and personnel costs that are directly related to the planning and implementation of the event. The subsidy is processed by the Austrian Hotel and Tourism Bank. Applications are to be submitted from 15 January 2021 onwards, the first eligible event date is 1 February 2021. Applications may be submitted until 15 June 2021 and cover planned events until the end of 2022.

In November 2020, the COVID-19 fund was increased by a further €10 million (after a first increase of €5 million in September 2020), reaching €20 million now. As of 11 December 2020, the individual subsidy for phase 2 from the KSVF's COVID-19 Fund is increased by €500 due to the government's new lockdown measures which have further aggravated the economic and financial situation for many artists and cultural mediators. The increase is paid automatically, no separate application is needed. For 2021, a further subsidy (phase 3) is planned. For the first quarter 2021, €1,500 per person are paid.

In December 2020, the bridging fund (see update 7/10/2020) was increased from €90 to €110 million and prolonged into 2021. From 15 January 2021 onwards, a payment of €3,000 can be applied for the first quarter 2021. A "lockdown bonus" was implemented in November 2020 when the government initiated new lockdown measures, severely affecting independent (self-employed) artists. Originally, the one-time payment was at €1,300, this was increased to €2,000 in December (when a third lockdown was implemented).

A special bridging fund for artists was established on 8 July 2020. The fund is endowed with approximately €90 million and aims to provide specific support to artists who are particularly affected by the measures to combat COVID-19, since they were the first to be affected and the restrictions will reduce their earning potential for a particularly long time. Self-employed artists who are insured with the Social Insurance for the Self-Employed (SVS) and who are in a state of emergency can apply for a one-off payment of €6,000 since July 2020. This payment was increased to €10,000 on 7 October. Applications for the increased bridging financing can be submitted to the SVS until 31 December 2020. Any payments already received or granted from the hardship fund are deducted.

The Federal Government decided on 9 September 2020 in the Council of Ministers to increase the COVID-19 fund from €5 to €10 million.

A further fund, the "bridging fund for artists" was set up in June 2020, endowed with €90 million. The fund aims to provide specific support to artists who are particularly affected by the measures to combat COVID-19, as they were the first to be affected by these measures and the restrictions will reduce their earning potential for a particularly long time. Eligible for application are self-employed artists who are compulsorily or voluntarily insured with the Social Insurance Institution of the Self-employed (SVS). A one-off payment of €6,000 is planned. Any payments already received from the hardship fund AT-2020-13_212 ) will be deducted. Artists in this matter are defined as those persons who create, exercise, mediate or teach art and culture. The SVS is responsible for processing the subsidies according to this federal law. The maximum amount of aid is €6,000 in the form of a one-time payment. Funds can be applied for from 8 July 2020 onwards, until 31 December 2020.

A 'comeback grant' is paid to independent film production companies whose productions have been interrupted or postponed due to COVID-19 from 16 March to 31 December 2020. Up to 100% of the eligible costs will be reimbursed (eligible costs include personnel costs, costs in the field of image and sound recording like rental of camera, sound recording equipment, lighting equipment and other production-related equipment, costs of motif fees, rental of studio and decoration buildings, costs in the field of equipment, travel, transport and handling costs). Up to 75% of the originally calculated production costs can be reimbursed in such a way. The maximum amount per production (i.e. film or episode) lies at €2.5 million.