The opening date for the 2022 strand of the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS) has been announced.
Details
A statement published on gov.ie said that MEBAS 2022 is a simpler and easier to access new scheme that will further support performers and individuals in the music business who have been impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
The guidelines for MEBAS 2022 will be published on Tuesday January 25 on the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media's website, and the application portal will open two days later on Thursday January 27.
The scheme will operate in a similar manner to the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), providing grants of up to the value of 15% of the average monthly VAT-exclusive turnover prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The aim of the scheme is to contribute to the overheads of individuals who are self-employed and sole traders in the music industry who have been adversely impacted by COVID-19. It must be demonstrated that 2021 turnover was not above 40% of average turnover prior to the pandemic to be eligible for the scheme.
The grant will be paid for a six month period from January of 2022 to June of 2022 to assist self-employed performers, sole traders and businesses that have experienced significant reductions in turnover due to the COVID-19 pandemic and help to underpin their recovery as COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions are eased.
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Catherine Martin has made €50 million available in 2022 to support live entertainment, with the following funding schemes having been provided to date:
- €5 million LPSS 2 - Pantomime scheme
- €20 million LPSS 3 - Scheme to cover December/January cancellations
- €5 million Local Live Performance Support Scheme (LLPSS)
- €4 million Music and Entertainment Support Scheme (MEBAS)
- €5 million (capital) Commercial Entertainment Capital Grant Scheme (CECGS)
- €1 million St. Patrick's Festival.
Minister For Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media Statements
In a statement included in the statement published on gov.ie announcing the above news, Minister Martin said, "I have engaged extensively with stakeholders to understand the challenges faced by them and put in place supports that work for the sector. I am pleased to announce that MEBAS 2022 will open for applications on Thursday January 27th. As part of the €50 million in supports I have secured for the Live Entertainment sector for 2022, I have allocated €4 million to MEBAS 2022."
Minister Martin added, "As part of a suite of measures to support those in the sector, MEBAS was launched in 2021 as a targeted support for self-employed performers and sole traders operating solely in the live entertainment sector who did not qualify for other business supports such as CRSS and who were significantly impacted by restrictions introduced to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."
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