Posted on by sota comm
We as the pulling members of SOTA stand in solidarity with other sectors and call to join the general strike and protest on the 31st of March.
Arizona is now targeting artists and cultural workers. Employment Secretary David Clarinval wants to dismantle the recently reformed artist statute. It is becoming increasingly clear that phasing out decent working conditions – including those of cultural workers – is part of this Arizona government’s social vision.
Artist status?
The art work allowance is an adapted scheme within the unemployment law, providing art workers with the social protection to which all other working people in Belgium are also entitled. This exception is necessary, because the irregular work patterns not only of artists, but of technical, administrative and communication workers, now regularly include gaps. After all, most artistic disciplines core numerous periods without direct income: rehearsals, creations, off-seasons, the time you work in the studio that is not paid but necessary to make your work…
This Belgian scheme is unique and has received much positive feedback across Europe. Some 8,000 cultural workers currently apply for it. Given the size of the sector, this is only a small percentage. The love of work keeps arts workers motivated. This leads to many great things. If we want to keep it that way, arts workers deserve this special support.
On March 31, unions, federations and cultural sector representatives will take action against Arizona’s anti-social measures and anti-democratic vision.
Join us because an attack on the cultural sector is an attack on much more than just cultural offerings or working conditions in the sector. It is also an attack on the right to experience art and culture that ventures to colour outside the lines – big or small, diverse or critical of prevailing ideas. Come to Place de la Monnaie, Brussels, on 31 March and/or show your solidarity by hanging banners in cultural venues.
31 March, 10 – 12am at Place de la Monnaie, Brussels