Debate coronasteun for culture

The reason for the debate was the announcement in Minister Van Engelshoven's (OCW) room letter that corona support packages will largely end as of October 1. Extension of the emergency support as of October 1 was an important topic and was advocated by several groups. 

The minister indicated that a fundamental solution to the position of self-employed workers in the sector lies in a structural increase in the culture budget

The minister promised to send a letter about the interpretation of the recovery plan prior to the budget debate for culture on November 22. The minister indicated that a fundamental solution to the position of freelancers in the sector lies in a structural increase of the culture budget, but that a recovery package could also pay attention to minimum rates for freelancers. She emphasized that it is her intention to prevent institutions from collapsing and that she will monitor this carefully. For example, the cultural loan desks via Cultuur+Ondernemen will remain open. 

European Recovery Fund

Attention was drawn by several parties to making the resources from the European Recovery Fund available to the cultural and creative sector. According to the European directive, the Netherlands could spend two percent (i.e. 120 million euros) on the cultural and creative sector. With the European Recovery Fund, the European Union wants to cushion the economic blow of the corona crisis. The fund has a size of 750 billion euros, consisting of 390 billion in subsidies and 360 billion in loans.

According to the European directive, the Netherlands could spend two percent (that is 120 million euros)

Member states will receive these grants and loans only if they meet a number of conditions. The money must be used for "sensible reforms" with an emphasis on sustainability and digital development. A member state that wants to use money from the Recovery Fund must submit a plan to the Commission, which can be done until mid-2022. Whether the Netherlands will submit a plan is unclear. For the first round in April 2021, the outgoing cabinet opted not to participate, but instead to leave that decision to a subsequent cabinet.

See also kunsten92.nl and europa-now.com