Germany: damaged by coronavirus, independent artists call on government for help

Members of The Swingin 'Hermlins at work in the streets of Berlin, August 8, 2020. Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters

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Singers, jugglers, dancers, actors ... Several hundred independent artists demonstrated in the streets of Berlin this weekend. They are asking for support from the German authorities during this period of the Covid-19 pandemic. Most say they are in very delicate financial situations.

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In Berlin, the report by Delphine Nerbollier

Patrizia Hodel is a singer, dancer and actress. She works on her own, independently, for musicals. However, since the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions imposed in March on the entire cultural sector in Germany, this artist can no longer work. Operas and performance halls are closed, and no solution is in sight for this year.

“  Until 2021, I am not allowed to practice my profession. In addition, next month my unemployment insurance is due to expire. So I will no longer have any income. It means that we have to do a whole other job ... I find that very unfair.  "

► See also: Germany announces a historic decline in its GDP in the second quarter

They ask for a minimum fixed income

In March, Patrizia Hodel obtained exceptional aid of 5,000 euros, paid by the city of Berlin to self-employed workers. In the process, she was also able to benefit, on an exceptional basis, from unemployment benefit. But it will end in September ...

The organizers of the Berlin demonstration are therefore sounding the alarm. They ask for a fixed, exceptional income of € 1,180 per month at least as long as these artists are prohibited from practicing their profession. This measure is already partly applied in Bavaria, but not throughout the country.

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  • Germany
  • Coronavirus
  • Employment and Work
  • Economic crisis

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