Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin TD, has announced the opening of the new strand of the MEBAS (Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme ) and a further extension of the closing date for the MEBAS 1 scheme until September 30.
The Minister said: "I am happy to announce that the new strand of MEBAS funding is open for applications. Businesses with turnovers of between €15,000 and €20,000 will be able to apply for grants of €1,500 towards their business costs."
As part of a suite of supports for the live entertainment sector, an allocation of €14m was made available for the Music and Entertainment Business Assistance Scheme (MEBAS ).
The aim of this scheme is to make a contribution to the overheads of businesses, specifically musicians and related crew that have been significantly negatively affected by COVID-19 and have not been able to perform or stage performances and do not qualify for other business supports.
The first round of the scheme, which is now closed for applications, awarded funding across three streams for businesses with turnover in excess of €20,000. The new scheme will provide grants for smaller businesses that did not have access to the original scheme, by lowering the turnover threshold to €15,000.
The Minister added: "I have had extensive and ongoing engagement with stakeholders in the music industry throughout the pandemic as I sought to deliver a range of supports for the sector.
"I have listened to their concerns around the turnover levels under MEBAS and am pleased to be in a position to extend the threshold to provide for smaller businesses. I am also pleased to announce that I will extend closing date for the MEBAS 1 scheme until September 30."
Under the scheme, self-employed businesses including musicians, singers, lighting and sound crew and audio equipment suppliers operating exclusively within the commercial live entertainment sector, are eligible to apply. The application window for this round of the scheme will be open until September 30.
To support the industry through this difficult period the Minister has to date allocated €61.5m for a suite of measures designed to sustain and support the sector, including: (1 ) €25m Live Performance Support Scheme, (2 ) €14m Music and Entertainment Business Support Scheme, (3 ) €11.5m Event Sector Covid Support Scheme (funded via transfer from D/ETE Vote ), (4 ) €5m Local Authority Performance Support Scheme, (5 ) €5m Capital Support Scheme and (6 ) €1m Patricks Day Festival.
