Covid financial aid will be continued
The government of the Canton of St. Gallen is presenting a supplement to the cantonal implementation law for the continuation of financial aid in the cultural sector in 2022.
The continuation of the financial aid is urgent due to the highly tense and existence-threatening economic situation of cultural actors and the general epidemiological development of recent weeks, writes the canton. For losses between November 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, cultural enterprises and cultural professionals submitted a total of 492 applications for loss compensation by November 30, 2021. In addition, 53 applications were submitted for contributions to transformation projects.
The coronavirus support measures for the cultural sector would have expired at the end of 2021 due to the time limit in Art. 11 of the Federal Covid-19 Act. The National Council and Council of States therefore decided in the 2021 winter session to extend the measures until the end of 2022. On 17 December 2021, the Federal Council also extended the period of validity of the Covid-19 Cultural Ordinance, which specifies Art. 11.
The government estimates that a maximum of CHF 15.4 million will be required for the third phase in terms of a cost ceiling. Half of this (CHF 7.7 million each) would have to be financed by the federal government and half by the canton. This results in an additional requirement for cantonal funds of CHF 4.04 million. The cost ceiling for the cantonal funds for the measures financed half and half by the federal government therefore amounts to a total of CHF 13.89 million for the second and third phases together (instead of the previous CHF 9.85 million for the second phase).
Original article:
https://www.sg.ch/news/sgch_allgemein/2022/01/covid-finanzhilfe-fuer-kultur-soll-weitergefuehrt-werden.html
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