The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has announced additional funding of €50m to support the Live Performance Sector today.

The supports are in response to the introduction of new restrictions on live performance capacities.

The supports announced today for the sector include €5m for the seasonal musical theatre and pantomime scheme (LPSS 2). Funding will increase from €2m to €5m and the turnover requirement is being reduced to €100,000 from €300,000 with applications being accepted until the end of January 2022. This scheme is now open for applications.

Other supports include €20m for another strand of the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 3), specifically to support performances in December and January which may need to be cancelled, curtailed or rescheduled. This scheme will open for applications on Friday December 17th. Venues, including nightclubs that stage live performances, Producers and Promoters can apply for up to 50% of their eligible costs.

A minimum of €14m is included for another strand of the Live Performance Support Scheme (LPSS 4), to support performances being staged from February 2022 to June 2022. This scheme will open in January 2022. If further funds are required the Minister will seek additional funding from the Covid Contingency Fund.

€5m is being offered to Local Authorities to support local artists and performances through the LLPSS (Local Live Performance Support Scheme). This will include funding for community and local pantomimes.

Minister Martin is also delivering €5m to continue the capital supports scheme (CECGS) to venues, including for ventilation upgrades and other Covid adaptations.

A further €1m is being saved for the Saint Patricks Festival 2022.

A further extension of the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) which supports businesses in the music sector will be announced in January. This scheme has provided grant support to businesses to cover costs up to the end of December.

“The live entertainment sector has been asked to shoulder a heavy burden with these new restrictions," Minister Catherine Martin said. "This is not where we wanted to be but the epidemiological situation is such that we must try to reduce socialisation to manage Covid-19 case numbers over the coming weeks. I know audiences are still seeking live performance experiences after venues were closed for so long and I do not want to see stages going dark in the coming weeks. LPSS 3 will provide venues with the flexibility to decide if they will proceed with their events or reschedule and keep artists and crew employed.”

The Minister expressed her commitment to supporting the sector as they navigate a difficult path.

“I am conscious of how important these pantomimes and seasonal musical theatre shows are for the businesses that stage them," she stated in a press release. "I would like to see as many of these productions as possible continue even with 50% of the usual audiences. Families and children across the country look forward to these every year and it is important they go ahead now more than ever."

"I am committed to supporting the live performance and nightclub sector as they journey through a difficult and unprecedented phase of business operations. I know it takes many weeks and months to programme shows and tours. I am very pleased to announce the roll out of these schemes which aim to be as flexible and responsive as possible.”