The National Cultural Foundation (NCF) has spent more than $4 million assisting COVID-19 affected artistes – covering from entertainment to new cottage businesses.
The arts and culture agency was criticised recently by some claiming it had done nothing to help, but more than one document obtained by the Sunday Sun showed that some of its critics, along with more than 400 others, received financial help with ventures.
One of the people knocking the foundation, a make-up artist, received no less than $4 000 monthly for a six-month tutorial while another entertainer received $10 000 for live stream events along with payment to his support service providers.
As a result of the cancellation of the agency’s showpieces of Crop Over and NIFCA because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which also wiped out the potential for earning in the entertaining field, the NCF focused on its Cultural Industries Development Fund grants, the COVID-19 grants, training and development and production, marketing and promotion to the tune of $4.3 million. The figure does not take into account the early We Gatherin’ project, but the March 2020 to March 2021 period when the country was in various lockdowns or under stay-at-home orders. (AC)
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