The Minister of Education and Culture Prodromos Prodromou announced on Tuesday support measures for the cultural sector suffering the consequences of Covid-19 that involves a 50% increase in the budged for purchasing artworks for the state collection.
Prodromou said that today’s announcement is the beginning of measures and that more measures will be potentially considered in the process.
He noted that cultural businesses (for profit) can benefit from the government’s existing support programme stipulating a 60% subsidy of salaries given that their business is down by at least 25%.
In addition, the VAT cut from 19% to 17% and from 9% to 7% also applies to cultural transactions as does the moratorium on loan instalments.
Apart from the above, the Ministry of Education and Culture has decided the below to support authorities and creators in the cultural sector:
-For approved activities in the Cultural Services’ programme to be held until the first quarter of 2021, the first tranche will be paid out now. For approved activities and events to be cancelled, expenses already made will be covered.
-Funding of operational expenses of cultural authorities will continue irrespective of their activities to ensure their sustainability. In particular, €1,045 million is earmarked for the four Arts and Letters authorities in Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos, the two dance authorities in Nicosia and Limassol and the Rialto Theatre in Limassol.
-Support to those who made irrecoverable expenses to participate in events in Cyprus or abroad that have been cancelled. These involve plane tickets, technical services, planning expenses etc. Applications will be reviewed and we will decide what percentage of the spending will be covered.
-Similarly, claims will also be reviewed for damages incurred in filmmaking or preparations for filmmaking for the period March-June 2020 that have been suspended.
-In addition, the Ministry will aim to boost the financial position of artists and creatives by:
- increasing the budget for purchasing artworks for the state collection by 50%
- injecting funding into screenings of European films, including Cypriot productions
- encouraging and promoting online film and audiovisual activities of short films, documentaries and animation
The announcement also mentioned that in collaboration with the Cyprus Theatre Organisation (Thoc) the Ministry will look into ways to support the theatre sector during this challenging period.
