Saatja: Hélène Gauthier <
[email protected]>
Saadetud: 18.03.2020 13:39
Adressaat: Kultuuriminister <
[email protected]>
Teema: Coronavirus Pandemic: Theatres in Europe Urge Support from EU and Member
States
Manused: image001.png
Dear Minister of Culture, dear Tõnis Lukas,
Following governmental decisions of Member States to fight the spread of COVID-19, theatres in
Europe have been ordered by national governments to temporarily stop performing, avoiding large
gatherings. The cancellation of live performances across European countries will have unprecedented
economic consequences and affects an already precarious sector.
While the harsh measures are responsible actions to face the severe situation, the degree of financial
damage for theatres and all implied actors of the creative and cultural sector is yet to be determined.
1) We call upon the EU and Member States to provide necessary measures and allocate funds to
compensate the loss of income.
The announced Corona Response Investment Initiative by the European Commission shall
also benefit the suffering theatre sector.
Measures must take into account the various economic and legal entities of the public and
private sector, small and medium sized enterprises and address the needs specifically:
Public funds must not be held back nor cut according to the annual budget
Venues must not reimburse public earmarked funds for specific actions already spent and
linked to cancelled performances
Loss of box office income for venues must be compensated
Individual artists and theatre companies must be compensated for the loss of income due to
cancelled performances and creation processes
2) We urge the EU and Member States to support theatres and all performing arts professionals in
Europe, guaranteeing the sustainability of the sector and one of the key European cultural art forms
which gathers people in social and democratic contexts.
3) We request that coordination of the distribution of those compensating funds will be put in
place at EU and Member State level, allowing the sector to access them non-bureaucratically.
With best regards,
Hélène Gauthier
About the European Theatre Convention (ETC)
An artistic platform for creation, innovation and collaboration
As the largest network of public theatres in Europe, ETC has more than 40 European Member
Theatres from over 20 countries, reflecting the diversity of Europe?s vibrant cultural sector. Founded
in 1988, the ETC promotes European theatre as a vital platform for dialogue, democracy and
interaction that responds to, reflects and engages with today?s diverse audiences and changing
societies.
More: www.europeantheatre.eu
Read the full statement online here: https://www.europeantheatre.eu/news/press-release-
coronavirus-pandemic
Hélène Gauthier
Acting Executive Director
Project & Network Manager
European Theatre Convention
c/o Deutsches Theater
Schumannstr 13 A
10117 Berlin, Germany
T: 0049 30 28 441 402
M: 0049 172 357 32 45
www.europeantheatre.eu
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