Applications will be invited for grant funding under this scheme from 1pm on Tuesday March 22nd 2022. The scheme will close for applications at 1pm on Wednesday April 20th 2022.

Applicants may make only one application under this scheme.

The application form will be made available on the department’s website at 1pm on Tuesday March 22nd 2022.

Please note:

• This Scheme will operate with a fund of €15m, due to the high volume of applications anticipated, it may not be possible to allocate funding to all eligible applicants. 

• Applications will be considered strictly by order of date and time of receipt by the department. 

Introduction

The Live Performance Restart Grant Scheme (LPRGS) is a new grant for businesses engaged in staging live events in the arts and culture live performance sector. The scheme aims to help underpin the recovery of the live performance sector by providing business restart grants to companies/venues/producers and promoters. 

The scheme forms part of a €50m suite of supports for the Live Entertainment sector in 2022.

Grants of up to €100,000 will be provided to eligible businesses. 

The scheme will open for applications via an online portal on Tuesday March 22nd at 1pm. 

Aims of the Scheme

This scheme will support the live entertainment sector by providing business re-start grants to de-risk the planning of events across spring and summer of 2022 and to assist with the costs of reopening.

Businesses must have resumed trading in order to be eligible to apply under this scheme. 

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Who is eligible to apply?

• Producers, promoters and venues, including nightclubs with an established track record in producing live arts/culture performances and which are advertised as such. These events must be predominately artist led as defined by the Arts Act 2003, that is:

“"arts" means any creative or interpretative expression (whether traditional or contemporary) in whatever form, and includes, in particular, visual arts, theatre, literature, music, dance, opera, film, circus and architecture, and includes any medium when used for those purpose".

• Existing grantees who are fully compliant with their existing Service Level Agreement and draw down procedures. Existing grantees defined as: LPSS Pilot, LPSS 2021, LPSS 2, LPSS 3 or ESCSS (Stream A only) grantees in full compliance with their service level agreements. 

• Please note: existing grantees are deemed to have already demonstrated their track record, no further information in relation to track record is required for those applicants. 

• If an applicant is a new entrant i.e. not an existing grantee, the applicant must be in a position to demonstrate the following; 

-a proven track record of at least 2 years of delivering ticketed events in the arts and culture sector; 

-VAT-exclusive turnover generated in this State of at least €100,000 or above per year for 2018 and 2019; 

• the business must be located in the State;

• All applicants i.e. existing grantees and new entrants, must be able to demonstrate that their VAT-exclusive turnover , for any consecutive 12 month period from 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2021, was no more than 40% of their turnover prior to the introduction of Covid restrictions, demonstrated via provision of accounts for their reference year (either 2018, 2019 or 2020). VAT exclusive turnover excluding COVID-19 supports, for example: PUP, MEBAS, SBACS, CRSS, LPSS, ESCSS, EWSS

• The loss of turnover must be confirmed via an Auditor’s Certificate/Letter signed by an Accountant/Auditor. 

• All applicants will also be required to provide their most recent Audited Accounts/Accountants prepared by an accountant and Accounts for their reference year (either 2018, 2019 or 2020). 

• The business must be tax compliant.

Please note: A business can make only one application for funding under this scheme.