COVID-19 pandemic: ESA approves renewal of support scheme for cultural events in Norway*
The EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) has today approved renewal and amendments of a scheme to cover losses following cancellation and postponement of events.
Events across Norway have been cancelled or postponed due to public safety measures put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, event organisers have experienced significant losses.
In April 2020, ESA approved a scheme to compensate organisers for their losses. ESA approved a renewal and amendments to the scheme on 16 July 2020. Today’s decision, which follows a notification received by ESA from the Norwegian government on 2 November, renews the scheme, with some amendments, until the end of the year.
The budget for the culture scheme for the 1 September to 31 December period will be NOK 200 million (EUR 18.1m). The budget for the 1 May to 31 August period has been increased by NOK 425 million (EUR 38.6m) to a total of NOK 1.375 billion (EUR 124.8m).