Germany to Provide Support for Artists & Institutions Disrupted by Coronavirus Cancelations
By David SalazarGerman Culture Minister Monika Grütters has announced that the German government will help cultural institutions and artists who have suffered major financial disruption as a result of cancelations made for coronavirus precautions.
Most cultural institutions have been shut down over the last few days to help with containing the spread of coronavirus. As a result, many artists have found their upcoming contracts annulled, cutting off their anticipated wages and the economic stability they provided. With the general uncertainty of when institutions can or will reopen, the instability for the artists will hang over them on a daily basis.
The same goes for smaller artistic institutions which are unable to garner ticket sales, a major source of revenue. This includes not only theatres, but also museums and cinemas, among other artistic venues.
“It’s clear to me that the situation is a massive burden for the cultural and creative sectors and that small institutions and freelance artists could face considerable distress,” Grütters said per The Art Newspaper. “I won’t leave you in the lurch!”
Per the report, Chancellor Angela Merkel has stated that the government plans to offer liquidity assistance to affected companies via the state-owned bank, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau.
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