The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and Cultural Industry Fund (FIC) held a meeting last week to discuss various measures to support the cultural and creative industries hit hard by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, according to a statement by the two government entities on Saturday.
The statement noted that the Cultural Affairs Bureau and Cultural Industry Fund continue to pay close attention to the industries’ predicament caused by the epidemic and maintain close communication with the.
The Cultural Industry Fund said it would consider extending the repayment of loans granted for 75 cultural and creative enterprise projects by a year, involving MOP 36 million (US$4.5 million), apart from reducing the amounts for each repayment period or extending each project’s implementation period.
The statement noted due to the adverse impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Cultural Affairs Bureau has decided to extend its deadline for beneficiaries of the “Subsidy Programme Series for Macau’s Cultural and Creative Industries” to complete their projects, including the implementation period of the subsidy programmes for feature films, original song albums and fashion design samples.
In line with the government’s intention of creating employment opportunities instead of just doling out money, the Cultural Affairs Bureau pledged to create favourable working conditions for Macau’s cultural and artistic practitioners, such as by creating “online handicraft teaching” and online learning programmes in the cultural and creative areas.
According to the statement, the tenants of units owned by the Cultural Affairs Bureau will be exempted from rent payments for three months.
According to the statement, the Cultural Industry Fund is also preparing to launch a raft of special funding programmes to assist enterprises in developing new markets after the epidemic, including cultural tourism, community culture and innovation, as well as the promotion of cultural performances in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and overseas markets. Details of the plans will be announced in due course, the statement said.
The statement said that the Cultural Affairs Bureau and Cultural Industry Fund will join hands with cultural practitioners and creative artists to fight the epidemic and ensure the sector’s gradual recovery.
(The Macau Post Daily/Macau News)
PHOTO © Portuguese American Journal
