New event fund – Scotland’s Events Recovery Fund (SERF) has been established in conjunction with Scottish Government to help Scotland’s events sector plan and deliver events through to the end of 2021, and to provide support as the industry responds and adapts to the effects of COVID-19.
As part of our tourism and events recovery plan, this fund aims to help restart the events sector as restrictions are eased, and address additional costs which may be incurred as a result of new hygiene and health and safety requirements, allowing communities and the public to regain confidence in hosting and attending events.
About the Fund
A total of £2.75 million is available for eligible events planned to take place before the end of 2021. This is an open fund without a fixed application deadline. It is anticipated that up to £1.5m in funding may be awarded for applications received up to 31 December 2020, and that the remainder will be retained to support applications received between 1 January and 31 March 2021. The fund is designed to support innovation by organisers in planning events, and applicants are encouraged to seek viable solutions, pilot new ideas and share best practice in their event plans.
This fund replaces EventScotland’s National and Beacon funding programmes on an interim basis. It has also integrated Scotland’s Winter Festivals and the Scottish Clans and Historical Figures Event Funds. The International Events Programme remains open for applicants who are organising events which promote Scotland on the world-stage and achieve media coverage across the UK and internationally.
There are two routes to funding available:
A. Community Events, and Events with existing EventScotland funding offers.
Awards of between £1,000 – £5,000 are available for eligible event organisers in Scotland, including smaller scale / community focused events which don’t normally support the visitor economy, as well as for events which have already agreed funding from another EventScotland-managed funding programme. Funds can be used to support the core staging costs and safe delivery of your event, including any additional COVID-19 related hygiene measures. A simple, streamlined application process is in place to support access to funding through this route.
B. Events supporting the visitor economy (e.g. regional and Scottish domestic tourism).
Awards of between £5,000 – £35,000 are available to larger scale events which can demonstrate alignment with the key impact areas identified in our national events strategy, Scotland, the Perfect Stage. Funds can be used to support the core staging costs and safe delivery of your event, including any additional COVID-19 related hygiene measures. More detailed information is requested as part of the application process associated with this route.
Applicants in both routes will be required to demonstrate that their plans will adhere to the latest Scottish Government Events Sector Guidance, and commit to follow all relevant guidance as part of any successful funding application.
Event categorisations eligible for support:
- Live, public facing events which welcome audiences in person to participate or spectate safely.
- Hybrid events which present a viable solution to the current situation. For the purpose of this fund, hybrid events are categorised as events that have both an in-person opportunity to attend and offer an online, virtual or digital opportunity to engage with the event.
- Digital/Virtual events will be considered from existing events where there is an intention to return to a live event format to maintain audience engagement, as well as from new digital events which meet the Event Impacts criteria (see below) and promote Scotland to an online audience.
HOW TO APPLY
Head to Event Scotland and the read the four steps before submitting an application
