Swiss cultural sector in an "artificial coma"

The Culture Taskforce therefore sent another letter to the Federal Council the day before the probable extension of the cultural lockdown. In it, it calls for simple, swift and effective compensation and a strategy for the resumption of cultural life, also in the interests of the population who want to attend cultural events or are culturally active themselves. She writes:

"The Culture Taskforce cannot understand why the promised compensation has so far been slow or delayed. For example, the new form for loss compensation in accordance with the Covid-19 Culture Ordinance, which is based on the average values of the last two years, is not yet online in all cantons, although the statutory reporting deadline expires on January 31. This is untenable. There is therefore an urgent need for uniform regulations throughout Switzerland and a clear simplification of the confusing support measures. The hardship allowance must also be accessible to the cultural and event sector as long as numerous cantonal restrictions undermine the hardship allowance. On the one hand, events are no longer allowed to take place, but damage caused is not adequately compensated despite the ban if, for example, they are based in a canton that caps the compensation.

It is also difficult to understand the reluctance to grant urgently needed support, such as short-time working compensation for temporary employees. Fixed-term employment contracts are particularly common in the cultural sector. Nevertheless, short-time working compensation for temporary employees was only granted for three months until the end of March. In view of the current situation, this is incomprehensible.

The Swiss cultural sector has been put into an artificial coma. In the next few days, the Federal Council will determine the necessary adjustments to the cushioning measures. To survive this, the cultural sector needs, among other things:

• Short-time working compensation (also for temporary employees) until normal operation, but at least until the end of 2021
• Corona income compensation for all self-employed persons whose business has been restricted due to the pandemic measures, from a loss of turnover of 10% until normal operation, but at least until the end of 2021 and with payment of a business allowance
• Full compensation for cultural enterprises and cultural professionals (100%) without cantonal caps or exclusions until normal operations, but at least until the end of 2021
• Access to subsidiary hardship compensation also for cultural enterprises, whether sole proprietorship or legal entity, until normal operation, but at least until the end of 2021

It is unacceptable that the Swiss National Bank now has a distribution reserve of almost CHF 100 billion and yet only wants to distribute CHF 4 billion to the public sector in this time of crisis. There would be enough money in Switzerland for quick and adequate compensation to the paralyzed sectors such as culture ..."