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Keeping Creative Kids connected during COVID-19

KEEPING CREATIVE KIDS CONNECTED DURING COVID-19

Kids in Hornsby will be able to redeem the NSW Government’s $100 Creative Kids vouchers and stay connected to creative learning activities during social distancing restrictions thanks to an expansion of the program’s eligible activities and $1 million in funding to help program providers make the digital transition.

Member for Hornsby Matt Kean MP said the Creative Kids program offers families an annual $100 voucher for every school aged child to contribute to registration, participation and tuition costs for performing arts, visual arts, coding, languages, literature, music and other creative and cultural activities.

The changes include:

  • $1 million to support digital adaptation grants for Creative Kids providers up to $5,000
  • a digital toolkit to help providers pivot to online delivery
  • extension of the use of Creative Kids vouchers for online programs and educational materials
  • improved Service NSW website to make it easier for parents to find a provider

The expanded guidelines will ensure children with limited access to the internet, including in regional and remote NSW, have more opportunities by allowing Creative Kids vouchers to cover the cost of more creative materials and equipment.

Mr Kean said the Government was doing everything it could to keep kids connected to quality cultural and creative activities, despite the impact of COVID-19.

“Whether it’s school education or extra-curricular activities, we want our kids to be able to maximise every opportunity. Creative Kids has been incredibly popular, and these changes will help to ensure that continues,” Mr Kean said.

“The changes we’re announcing today mean that no matter where kids are in NSW, they will have greater access to a range of Creative Kids providers who go digital.”

Mr Kean said $1 million in small business grants to help providers deliver programs remotely via the web and other platforms would provide a vital economic boost for small businesses doing it tough.

“At times like this, adapting your business can be the key to survival. Our digital adaptation grants will flow to more businesses and sole traders in the arts and creative industries, helping to keep people in jobs and businesses in business in a sector that has been hit hard by COVID-19,” Mr Kean said.

Applications for the Creative Kids provider grants are open. To be eligible, grant applicants must:

  • clearly demonstrate adaptation of Creative Kids activities to online delivery,
  • describe how this support can maintain or increase voucher redemption during COVID-19, and
  • meet the objectives of the Creative Kids program.