Arts sector demands fast and efficient support measures due to inflation: “Immediate action needed” | Inland

The arts sector is still struggling with the decline in its own income: one of the systemic consequences of the corona crisis. Immediate action is needed to prevent loss of employment, bankruptcies, curtailment of activities, partial or temporary closures and to safeguard the cultural mission, according to oKo, the network organization and employers’ federation of more than 240 professional arts organizations in Flanders and Brussels.

Oko argues in favor of direct support measures, including an extra inflation correction on subsidies in 2022 and 2023. “From now on, go for a full indexation of all subsidies (funds and decrees): infrastructure, renovations, operations and projects (European, federal, Flemish, Brussels , local)”, asks oKo.

If there is direct support for companies in difficulty, it must also be accessible to cultural organizations (non-profit organisations, foundations, etc.). Oko also asks to invest “largely and at an accelerated pace” in the energy transition and in energy-saving measures in the cultural sector.

With regard to employment, oKo proposes to extend the current adjustments and additional easing regarding economic unemployment of workers; implement the proposals for bridging rights for the self-employed and a successful roll-out of the reform of the social security rules for works of art.