[janinapigaht]

Dear all, On behalf of Pavla Petrova, here is an overview of the situation in the Czech Republic. You can also find an overview of these findings (updated regularly) here: https://www.idu.cz/en/news-and-current-events/news/1490-mapping-the-impact-of-the-ministry-of-health-s-extraordinary-measures-on-the-czech-independent-arts-sector-a-summary

Data was collected from 12:00 on 12 March 2020 to 13:00 on 16 March 2020 via a research questionnaire. The questionnaire was addressed to representatives of umbrella organisations, professional associations and individuals. Its emphasis was also to establish the current situation of subjects, individual artists and other professionals that work in the independent arts scene and are not part of larger organisations. While collecting the data, ATI collaborated with other organisations and media currently carrying out their own research, in order to avoid duplication of data.

It must be emphasised that the government’s measures changed during the period of data collection. As of 12 March 2020 events with fewer than 100 participants were permitted; by 16 March 2020, individuals’ freedom of moment had been limited.

Who completed the survey?

In total, the questionnaire was completed by 532 subjects across the cultural sector. Further comments and provisional estimates were also sent through separate statements and opinions. According to the replies received, the most negatively impacted fields are the performing arts disciplines, led by music (44.3 %) followed by theatre (21.1 %) and dance and contemporary circus (6.4 %).

Distribution of respondents according to individual fields

Music
Theatre
Dance
Visual Art
Multicultural Centres
Other Fields
Other fields: literature, film and audiovisuals, choirs, museums, galleries, technicians (sound engineers, lighting technicians, etc.), designers, translators, moderators, reciters and a number of other professions.
Basic needs for cross-disciplinary measures have been established and can be divided into four categories:

1. The classic, existing selective grant systems operated by the state or by cities:

The possibility to apply the costs of services rendered or cancelled in the statement of contributions already allocated.
Where cancelled events have been supported by public funding (eg., the State Cultural Fund, the Ministry of Culture), to not require a return of the contribution.
Timely payment of allocated grants, or at least notification of their amounts.
To take into account the current situation and adjust the grant system entrance criteria for 2021.
To change the accounting conditions of grants, including postponement of deadlines and adjustment of co-financing arrangements and indicators such as numbers of spectators or performances, etc.
Reduction of rent for state- or city-owned buildings.
2. Indirect instruments

The forgiveness of obligatory social and health insurance deposits with priority for artists and freelancers, either in total, or for the duration of the restrictions.
Postponement or reduction of all salary deductions.
Extension of the deadline for submission of income tax returns from physical and legal subjects.
Immediate postponement of deadlines for paying VAT. And further, as an incentive, the reduction of VAT for all cultural goods to 10 % (eventually 0 %). The elimination or reduction of VAT on ticket sales (currently at 15 %).
The forgiveness of some fees and a wider spectrum of tax relief.
Interest-free loans for 10 or more years to cover this years’ outgoings.
Interest-free loans from 10,000 CZK for freelancers (with trade licenses) and artists without trade licenses (under the Copyright Law).
The possibility of compensation for daily childcare during the period of school closure.
Non-introduction of the 3rd and 4th phases of EET.
3. Compensation or other financial support in connection with cancelled activities.

Organisations: compensation of recorded income or a portion thereof for the same period last year, or, alternatively, compensation in whole or in part of profits projected according to recorded contracts and other documents.

Individuals/individual artists: compensation for lost income in the form of an honorarium in the amount of at least 60 % of net income (equivalent to sick pay or family leave), or in the best case in the amount of 100 % (equivalent to situations where work is interrupted by the employer).

The creation of a relief fund within culture – or alternatively in collaboration with the public and private sectors.

4. Other

To call on citizens to show solidarity and not immediately request the refund of tickets, but wait for the possible rescheduling of events.
To call for the free loan of hardware necessary for 360 degree pay-per-view broadcasts of concerts and productions.
Support for the live streaming of cultural events on social networks.
To involve artists with assisting in other areas, such as childcare, and financially compensate them for this assistance.
The creation of a clear web interface (and forums) for arts and culture workers, where information on the extraordinary measures and their impact on the arts scene will be continuously updated.
In the future, acceleration of work on the strategic measures of the so-called Artist Statute, including legislative amendments.
The preparation of a functional crisis plan for the future.

[janinapigaht]

Dear all, here a brief overview of the Dutch situation and measures, thus far.

On Thursday evening March 12, the Dutch government induced social distancing measures banning gatherings of more than 100 people. As a result cultural events, concerts, galleries, museums and many more institutes closed there doors.

On Sunday evening March 15, these measures were taken one step further. Schools and child care services as well as all restaurants, cafes , etc., were called to close down, effectively trying to flatten the curve by inhibiting public life.

The measures taken to control the virus have major implications for the cultural and creative industries (including media). However, in the short term political and financial measures are necessary to prevent self-employed artists and creatives from ending up in financial upheaval and institutions and companies from going bankrupt. The Dutch minister of Education, Culture and Science van Engelshoven estimated the economic damage to the Dutch cultural sector to be between 60 to 110 million euro a week.
60% of people working in the cultural sector in the Netherlands are self-employed.

The government has indicated that it will do whatever it takes to deal with the economic consequences of the crisis. In a letter, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science promised that the interests and concerns of the cultural sector will be included in the government-wide measures that is being prepared. These measures however have proven to be insufficient to protect and support the Dutch cultural sector.

In a reaction to these circumstances:

The Kunstenbond (Dutch Union of Artists) has opened a hotline for independent artists and all freelancers in the cultural and creative sector to report their problems and lost income to the Kunstenbond via a specially opened website.

The Boekman foundation is keeping an overview of online culture and art initiatives that have been created as a response to the closing of its institutes and loss of work, you can find the (constantly updated) overview, here: https://www.boekman.nl/actualiteit/online-cultureel-initiatieven/

They are also conducting a survey regarding the implications and consequences for cultural institutes and freelancers.Which I can link to once published.

Various appeals are made to the public not to refund the money of the ticket (of the performance that is canceled) to the institution in order to continue the payment of makers and staff

Kunsten’92 a collective of cultural institutes, wrote a letter to the Dutch Cabinet to voice concerns and calls for an extra support package for the cultural and creative sector. A sector that contributes 3.8% to our Gross Domestic Product and is an important driver of our economic growth. Creatives not only ask for support, they also like to use their knowledge and innovation to solve problems within Dutch society that arise from the corona crisis.

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