The Flemish government gives a corona premium of 1,500 euros for artists who until now fell between the cracks in the support measures. Good news, after our struggle of more than 100 days. Of course, this is not enough to compensate for four months of major loss of income for many cultural workers with short contracts. This morning, Radio 1 asked us what we think about.
For that support, it is this Thursday 9 July in the federal parliament again D-Day for a social measure for those who so far have not been helped. Our Flemish and French-speaking political parties are once again trying to get a solution voted on in the plenary session.
The Council of State already gave a positive advice for the proposal of the law, which was delayed last time by political games. That gives hope, but we must keep up the pressure. Are you in?
- Do a one-minute freeze and share it on social media: #stillstanding!
- Follow the plenary on Thursday from home, together with some well-known Flemish and French-speaking artists in the parliament itself.
State of the Arts
STILL STANDING STILL: FREEZE AND SHARE
Are you in? Freeze your normal activity for one minute, become a living statue and share a video (or photo) of it with the hashtag #stillstanding, plus a short explanation of why you’re standing still.
You can freeze on your own, but even stronger is together with others. Do it at your workplace, in a busy street, at a summer festival, from home, in traffic jams, anywhere.
This is how we are expanding the impressive ‘standstill’ of 1,200 cultural workers on 25 June 2020 in eleven Belgian cities across the country. Because while the world is moving again, we are still standing still. We claim the social protection to which we are entitled. Read more
FLEMISH CULTURE CORONA PREMIUM OF 1.500 EURO
The cultural corona premium is intended for cultural workers who are not eligible for the various federal and/or regional support measures. The premium is EUR 1,500 and can be requested via an online counter from 17 July to 31 August 2020.
The Department of Culture, Youth and Media is currently developing a digital application where you will be able to apply for the culture corona premium. If you want to be kept informed about when it will be made available, register via this form.
Read here whether you are eligible for the culture corona premium.
THURSDAY: COLLECTIVE PARLIAMENTARY SESSION
Politicians, we’re watching you! Thursday, July 9th, a Flemish-French-speaking alliance of 50 artists’ federations will stream the parliamentary session from 2 p.m. via their facebook pages. In the parliament itself, about 10 artists in solidarity will be in the public gallery. We’re watching you!
On Thursday, follow the plenary session from 2 p.m. on our facebook page!
In the coming days, we will also share quotes from affected cultural workers on social media. They learn that the urgency remains high.
UNITED FOR A NEW NORMAL
Who walked along the Mont des Arts in Brussels on the morning of 4 July, could not miss it. At the bottom of the stairs 150 people came together in action, with a clear message for life after corona: “We want a new normal!” Read more