Strasbourg, 19.10.2021. There have always been poor artists - Mozart, Vivaldi, Kafka, they all died poor. Just how precarious the situation really is for many artists and cultural practitioners only really became clear during the coronavirus pandemic. For this reason, the European Parliament has adopted the report on the situation of artists and cultural recovery in the EU.

Manuela Ripa (ÖDP): "We are thus initiating the long overdue reform of the cultural sector. It is the duty of the EU Commission and the Member States to improve working conditions in the cultural sector and to ensure greater protection of artistic freedom."

Live shows were canceled or postponed indefinitely; galleries, museums and other cultural institutions closed. Even as other sectors reopened, the cultural and creative industries continued to be heavily impacted by social distancing measures and Covid-19 safety requirements.

The report by the Culture and Education Committee now provides the basis for the long-awaited aid for the creative industries. In addition to taking stock of the effects of the corona crisis, the report presents ways in which the various challenges can be tackled.

"An EU-wide framework for working conditions, which have been precarious to date, and more social security are particularly important. We cannot allow artists and freelance cultural workers to fall out of the social system in a crisis and for no one to feel responsible for them," emphasizes Manuela Ripa. Better working conditions include, for example, simplifying cross-border mobility for artists.

Other specific demands in the report include a comprehensive definition of the term "artist" and greater protection of artistic freedom and freedom of expression. Culture also deserves a reference to its special value for society as a whole and the need for appropriate, continuous financial and structural support.

"The support of the Member States and the Commission is crucial for the recovery of the sector - art, culture and artists deserve clear guidelines and protection from the European Union," said MEP Ripa.

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