Germany Has Rolled Out a Staggering €50 Billion Aid Package for Artists and Cultural Businesses, Putting Other Countries to Shame

The German federal government is stepping in with a sweeping aid
package for the country’s creative and cultural sectors. The
staggering €50 billion ($54 billion) in backing
comes less than two weeks since Germany first made
its promise of support.

“We know the hardships, we know the desperation,” said culture
minister Monika Grütters in a statement. “The cultural sector in
particular is characterized by a high proportion of self-employed
people who now have problems with their livelihoods.” She said that
the federal government is “wholly aware” of the importance of the
creative industries, adding that “[h]elp is coming as quickly and
with as little bureaucracy as possible!”

The three-part package includes up to €50 billion ($54
billion) in aid for individuals who are self-employed as well as
for small businesses. It will come in the form grants designed to
help with overhead costs like venue rentals and artist studios.
Loans will also be available within the package to help businesses
bridge financial bottlenecks. In addition to arts-related
individuals and organizations, the funding will support media
enterprises, including newspapers.

In addition to the stimulus money, social security (including
unemployment insurance) will be made available to freelancers for a
period of six months. With this, expenses for housing will be
recognized to ensure that “everyone can stay in their own home.” To
this end, the government is injecting another €10 billion ($11
billion) of support. The legislation also allows tenants to be
protected from eviction should they be unable to pay rent. Loans
may also be deferred, and individuals are permitted to ask the
tax bureau for a reduction in their payments or an advance on their
tax refunds.

Applications for loans for small businesses are already open for
submissions. Today, England’s art council announced a
significantly smaller package of $190 million in support. In New
York, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is calling on the
government to give US museums a $4 billion bailout.

The emergency legislation will have important implications for
publicly funded institutions and museums. The government says
that reclamations of funding are to be avoided in the event that
projects cannot be implemented. Instead, the government will try to
tailor existing budgets and adapt funded programs to suit the
current needs.

“Our democratic society needs its unique and diverse cultural
and media landscape in this historical situation, which was
unimaginable until recently,” said Grütters. “The creative courage
of creative people can help to overcome the crisis. We should seize
every opportunity to create good things for the future. That is why
the following applies: artists are not only indispensable, but also
vital, especially now.”

The post Germany Has Rolled Out a Staggering €50 Billion Aid
Package for Artists and Cultural Businesses, Putting Other
Countries to Shame appeared first on artnet News.