Help is being offered to artists, venues and others who work in the creative industries who may have been affected by the current lockdown period.

The Isle of Man Arts Council has launched its Covid-19 resilience fund in the face of the current period of lockdown which has affected the island throughout the most of January.

Many arts venues, such as the Gaiety Theatre, the Peel Centenary Centre and the Erin Arts Centre, to name a few, were again forced to cancel their programmes for January and, in some cases, throughout February, at very short notice.

The fund is also available for freelance artists who were unable to carry out projects, as well as artists who are engaged in creative art work and projects directed towards the current situation.

Arts Council member Jade Boylen said that, both as the owner of a creative business and a member of the council, she understands how important funding support can be for the creative arts can be.

’I understand first-hand the importance of supporting our local artists and creatives right now,’ said Jade.

’The arts have never been more vital for our mental health and general wellbeing both as a nation and as a community, giving us all something positive and uplifting to focus on every day.

’This resilience fund is to help support some of our local creative entrepreneurs and businesses that may be struggling during these unprecedented times, and hopefully give them the boost they need to carry on creating.’

l Applications will close on Friday, February 12, and can be submitted through iomarts.com.