Government crisis support is delayed - great concern in the cultural sector

On 20 March, Minister of Culture Amanda Lind (MP) presented a targeted grant of 500 million to the cultural sector, but the details of when, how and to whom the support should be distributed are delayed. Now several professional and interest organizations are warning that the situation is urgent.

- We need the support now. We needed it two weeks ago, and it's in a hurry. Many can't wait any longer, says Åsa Anesäter, operations manager for the Swedish Photographers' Association.

- It takes time to process a decision, but patience will soon end. It will take too long this time, "Simon Norrthon, associate chairman of the Theater and Film Association, told Culture News.

Both the Swedish Theater Association and the Swedish Photographers' Association have started crisis funds where you can apply for grants to cover the most urgent expenses.

- We have never received as many calls and emails as we get now. It has turned out that it is quite a matter of needing money for food, says Åsa Anesäter.

The Artists' Committee, one of the authorities that may distribute the government's crisis support, is preparing for an influx of applications, says Anna Söderbäck, director and head of government.

- We do not know what the assignment will be or the scope so we have to guess. It is important that the money is accessed as quickly as possible and our goal is for us to have funds preferably before midsummer, says Anna Söderbäck.

The government has made a number of decisions with a view to facilitating the cultural sector. Among other things, they have introduced the possibility of short-term permits, the possibility of reduced local rents, the possibility of certain loans and temporary reduced employer and self-contributions.

In an email to the Culture News, Amanda Lind writes that she is working intensively to get the support in place:

“In normal cases, such a process would take about four months, and then another six months for the European Commission to be approved. Now we have worked this out in just a few weeks and are at the final stage of the process. It is important that this goes quickly, while the support must be legally secure and designed so that it reaches where it is needed most. "