KINGSTON, Jamaica – The CHASE Fund has launched a new initiative which specifically targets the entertainment industry.

According to a release on Tuesday, August 16, the CHASE Entertainment Industry Support Initiative (CEISI) is the Fund’s response to a directive from Prime Minister Andrew Holness to provide support for Jamaica’s entertainment industry, which was severely affected by COVID-19.

Holness first mentioned a dedicated source of funding for the entertainment sector in his budget presentation back in April. The CEISI aligns with the Fund’s mandate for projects which fall within its Arts and Culture portfolio.

CHASE CEO, W Billy Heaven, says the initiative prioritises individuals and organisations in the entertainment industry, who need funding support for entertainment projects.

“It is our hope that the CEISI funding for entertainment related projects will help drive productivity toward pre-COVID-19 levels of activity,” he said. Heaven disclosed that CHASE had set aside $150 million for this facility in the current financial year.

CEISI funding will be considered for the sponsorship of entertainment events; music and film production; institutional support to cultural (entertainment) organisations; minor repairs to facilities that house artistic and cultural (entertainment) activities; and support for educational and training programmes for practitioners toward the development of talent and skills in the areas of arts and culture.

Latoya Aquart-Foster, Project Manager for the Fund, points out that the initiative is open to individual Jamaican entertainment practitioners and Jamaican entertainment organisations that must have been in operation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and must be able to provide evidence of activity such as company registration documents, event flyers, print and electronic media stories highlighting events.

Aquart-Foster emphasised that applicants must be registered with the e-Registry of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport. Information and application forms are provided on the CHASE Fund website: chase.org.jm. Information gathered from applicants will be used to support impact assessments and better inform future sector initiatives.