Quebec Is Giving $50 Million To Artists In COVID-19 Red Zones

The Quebec government says it's giving an additional $50 million in funding to artists, theatres, cinemas and production companies in the province's red zones.

In a press conference on October 2, Premier François Legault and Nathalie Roy, Quebec's minister of culture and communications, announced the government would be funding 75 percent of the revenue lost by cultural businesses over the next six months due to red zone restrictions.

The news comes after theatres, cinemas and museums in Quebec's red zones were forced to close on October 1, as cases in the province continue to rise.

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“

I understand your pain, I understand your deception and we [all] share it.

Nathalie Roy, Minister of Culture and Communications

"I know it’s tough for our artists right now, but we have no choice. We need to reduce our social contact. It’s a question of life or death," said Legault.

"We won’t let our artists down."

The move is in addition to over $400 million of funding the government allocated to the province's cultural industry last June.

The funding will be distributed to artists, actors, authors, technicians, and all other production crew members until March 31, 2021.

Museums and cinemas will benefit from up to $15,000 of funding that the government introduced for small businesses in red zones on October 1.

Legault said more activities and businesses could be facing more closures in the coming months if other regions in the province move into red zones.