Applications can be submitted
The Ordinance on Mitigating the Economic Impact of the Coronavirus (COVID Ordinance on Culture) and other associated guidelines were published by the Federal Office of Culture on April 6.
The Federal Office of Culture writes in its press release: "The cultural sector has been severely affected by the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the measures taken by the authorities to contain it. For this reason, the Federal Council approved a package of measures worth 280 million for the cultural sector on March 20, 2020. The financial aid is available and can be applied for from the cantons, the Suisseculture Sociale association and amateur cultural associations."
The ordinance is limited to two months and a first tranche of CHF 280 million will be distributed as follows:
"- Emergency aid for non-profit cultural enterprises (CHF 100 million) and creative artists (CHF 25 million)
- Loss compensation for profit-oriented and non-profit-oriented cultural enterprises and creative artists (CHF 145 million)
- Financial aid for cultural associations in the lay sector (CHF 10 million)"
Financial aid can be applied for from the Suisseculture Sociale association, the amateur cultural associations and the cantons, the latter only after they have signed a service agreement with the federal government.
The Federal Office of Culture and the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia are monitoring the situation together with the cantons and cultural organizations (in particular Suisseculture Sociale) during these two months. On behalf of the Federal Council, they will draw up an assessment of the situation and examine the possibility of extending the period of validity of the ordinance.
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