CDB allocates US$100,000 for creative industry practitioners

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has allocated US$100,000 in emergency relief grant funding for creative industry practitioners.

According to a media advisory issued on April 18, these funds are being offered through the Bank’s Cultural and Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF).

“This grant is targeted at entrepreneurs who can demonstrate loss of income for music, festival and carnival events that have been cancelled as a result of COVID-19,” the advisory said.

Half of the funding has been allocated for the music sub-sector while the remaining US$50,000 is for the festivals and carnivals sub-sector.

The advisory said that the grant is to be used for any one of three reasons, including product development — to produce an online/virtual product or event on an existing platform external to CDB — that leads to revenue generation.

It can also be used for market distribution and channelling to promote producers through existing regional and international electronic platforms. Or it can be used for digital disruptive technologies for music & festivals and carnivals to support the further development of an existing electronic solution that will facilitate revenue generation through online CI showcases, exchanges and performances.

“Projects should be community oriented where possible with a percentage of funds raised going towards associations of health care workers or sanitation workers or registered charities,” the advisory said.

To participate in this programme, practitioners are asked to read the call document and complete the online application form by May 20, 2020, which can be found on the CIIF webpage.