Covid-19 culture measures well implemented
At its meeting on May 10, 2021, the National Cultural Dialogue discussed the implementation of Covid support measures in the cultural sector and noted the good progress made in processing the applications.
According to the federal government's press release, the National Cultural Dialogue notes that more than 60 percent of the Covid support applications submitted since autumn 2020 have already been decided. Furthermore, at the end of April 2021, simplifications were made to the calculation of damages for loss compensation to cultural workers. CHF 130 million has so far been earmarked in the federal budget for 2021 for Covid cultural measures. The National Cultural Dialogue welcomes the fact that Parliament will discuss an additional credit of CHF 148 million in the summer session.
The National Cultural Dialogue also approved two recommendations: In the area of dance promotion, the dissemination of productions by independent dance groups should be strengthened, among other things. In the area of social security for cultural professionals, a support program should be created so that additional cantons, cities and municipalities implement the measures adopted in 2016 to strengthen occupational benefits for cultural professionals. The 2016-2020 work program of the National Cultural Dialogue was concluded with these recommendations.
The National Cultural Dialogue was established in 2011 and brings together representatives of the political authorities and cultural representatives from the cantons, cities, municipalities and the Confederation. Its work is based on an agreement from 2011 and the 2016-2020 work programme adopted in April 2016. The political authorities form the strategic steering body of the National Cultural Dialogue with the head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), representatives of the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK), the Swiss Association of Cities (SSV) and the Swiss Association of Communes (SGV).
