State ‘still ignoring plight of artists’

Pandemic assistance to people working in the arts and culture is grossly inadequate and the state must step in with additional grants, the Cultural Movement said on Friday.

In an announcement, the movement said that the art community was on the verge of financial collapse. The government is “continuing to provocatively ignore” those working in arts and culture who feel abandoned.

The grants given from March 2019 to February 2022 fall far short of making up for the irreparable losses incurred from the lockdowns and lower spectator figures, it said.

The majority of theatre, dance and musical productions that were planned for the past two years were never staged, while a large number of art exhibitions were also cancelled.

Given that there appears to be no end on the horizon for the pandemic, the movement called on the government to announce a comprehensive support package.

This should apply to the months of November 2021 to February 2022 and cover as many performances as possible.

The movement also asked for additional financing through the Cyprus Youth Board for young artists and for productions either entirely by young professionals under 35 or in which this group accounts for 80 per cent of those involved.

Finally, the movement demanded the speeding up of the bill recognising and safeguarding the professional standing of artists.