Task force response to new corona measures

The Taskforce cultural and creative sector is a collaboration of more than 100 branch, professional and interest organizations. The objective of the Taskforce is to face the corona crisis through joint analysis, information exchange and coordination. 

In the aforementioned letter, the Task Force called attention to a number of issues. It urged compensation for the loss of income due to the still hesitant cultural audience and to bridge the period until the recovery package, which will not be available until around June. The Task Force repeatedly called on the government to be clear and predictable in its corona policy and asked for the Opening and Recovery Plan as a starting point for that policy. 

Opening and Recovery Plan

The goal of this plan is a predictable and careful corona approach for audiences, creators and cultural organizations. "An approach where the policy reflex is no longer 'close' but 'stay open safely'."

The Task Force makes six proposals for emerging from the crisis in an agile and resilient manner. These include a roadmap that describes, for each risk level of the pandemic, how a stage, museum or festival can still safely receive visitors. The plan also outlines what the cultural sector needs in order to recover from the coronary crisis: measures to help audiences return, to retain makers, artists and independent workers for the sector, and to continue offering a full range of programs in the future.

The plan deals extensively with the worrying situation of makers and independent professionals. The Task Force has drafted a set of agreements, Fair Practice in emergency and recovery support, which ensures that emergency support reaches all parts of the cultural chain (from creator to technician, to producer and presentation venue). 

Response to fifth aid package

Earlier, the Taskforce responded to the State Secretary for Culture and Media Gunay Uslu, on the fifth support package: "The cabinet shows with the letter on the elaboration of the fifth support package that it is serious about absorbing the damage that has been inflicted on the cultural and creative sector. The State Secretary for Culture and Media rightly emphasizes in the letter that the available support should as much as possible reach those who need it most: the cultural and creative self-employed (including many artists and performers) and the independent theater producers." 

However, the Taskforce emphasizes that this support is not enough to get the industry out of the fire and still does not see the desired clarity on the (elaboration of the) compensation options.

In the letter, the Task Force urges the government to work on four urgent issues in the near future:
1. Clarify quickly the elaboration of support packages.
2. Make emergency support predictable.
3. Force through positive stimulus. fair practice at emergency support off.
4. Come up with a more generous support package while ensuring a level playing field. 

You can download the aforementioned letters, the opening and recovery plan and the document on Fair Practice in Emergency Support here:

Fair Practice in emergency and recovery support
Task Force response to Fifth aid package February 7, 2022
Input Corona debate 16 Feb 2022 from Task Force
Opening and recovery plan for cultural and creative sector

All information can also be found at kunsten92.nl