Dear Commissioner Gabriel,

Dear Ms Gessler, Ms Magnant and Mr Zampieri,

The coronavirus has affected all countries in Europe, and it is already evident that the cultural sector  is  and  will  be  heavily  impacted.  We  stand  in  solidarity  with  every  person  and organisation that are affected by the virus not only in Europe but also elsewhere in the world, and by the measures taken to contain it.

We highly appreciate that the European Commission and the EACEA have promptly reacted to  the  situation  by  making  a  brief  statement  on  the  consequences  of  the  coronavirus  on  the Creative Europeprogramme.

However,  due  to  the  urgency  of  reshaping  current  agendas  related  to  the  Creative  Europe activities,  we  kindly  ask  for  further  clarifications  concerning  Creative  Europe  cooperation projects and the Networks’ action. There is also a need to explore possible effective measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the cultural and creative sectors. Timely responses to the issues below would enable better predictability and decision-making in the short-and mid-term.

Main issues and proposals

The  diversity  of  the  cultural  and  creative  sectors  and  their  activities  calls  for  a  multi-targeted approach  to  address  the  impacts  being  felt  across  the  sectors  due  to  COVID-19.  A  range  of different possibilities should be open to cultural organisations benefiting from Creative Europe funding in order to provide the appropriate support and allow for fitting responses in the case of  each  organisation’s  circumstances.  Below,  we  outline  the  main  areas  at  stake  and put forward  proposals  that  would  help  to  support  the  cultural  and  creative  sectors  during  this challenging time.

1. Flexibility measures

Eligibility period

For events that cannot take place within the originally foreseen eligibility period of a project or framework year:
→ Extend the eligibility period for projects and framework contracts with accordingly postponed project reporting deadlines

Examples for networks:

For networks in Year3:
→ Prolong, the current framework by a period roughly corresponding to the period during which activities were not possible. Start (and end) Year 4 later accordingly
→ Permit the transfer of funds not used in Year 3 to be additionally used in Year 4

For networks in Year 4:
→ Prolong the eligibility period by a period roughly corresponding to the period during which activities were not possible

Eligibility of costs

For events that had to be cancelled but payments have already been made and related costs:

→ Make costs related to cancelled events and other cancelled activities eligible
→ Clarify the proof needed to show the eligibility of costs incurred

For freelancers, who are especially affected by the cancellation of events and other activities, as their sole income often depends on these activities:
→ Allow the eligibility of a “solidarity fee” that beneficiaries can offer as payment to freelancers who were already hired for cancelled events and activities

Replacement of activities

In the case of postponing events becoming increasingly difficult, due to the uncertainty and to a possible accumulation of events after the crisis:
→ Allow beneficiaries to replace events with other formats and activities more suited to the current situation (e.g. webinars, publications, videos) or with activities that can be carried out independently of the current situation (e.g. transferring unspent costs to developing an organisation’s financial sustainability)

Additional funding

For beneficiaries facing significant losses (due to the refund of tickets, participation fees etc.) and where costs incurred for postponed or cancelled events and other activities cannot be recovered:
→ Provide the possibility to apply for additional funding to mitigate losses and support the rescheduling of events where appropriate

2. Call for the EU to support the cultural and creative sectors

While public safety remains top priority, the European Cultural Networks, European Cultural Platforms and cultural organisations and its members stand in solidarity with artists and cultural operators affected by the emergency measures taken in light of the COVID-19 situation. The measures implemented are likely to overwhelm European theatres, museums, venues, archives, libraries, cultural heritage sites, cultural centres and other cultural and creative spaces reliant on audiences, visitors and participation, as well as the cultural ecosystem as such, creators, professionals, freelancers and SMEs who work within these practices, to support and technical staff. Without appropriate support measures, these decisions will have devastating economic and social impact on the sector. Whether employed or freelance, workers in the cultural and creative sectors, who are often in an already precarious situation, are facing a sudden and dramatic loss of income.

Therefore we would like to encourage you

• To support our plea to the European institutions and national governments to adopt emergency measures that specifically and adequately support the sustainability of the cultural ecosystem -similarly to what is being planned for small businesses.
• To call on the European Commission to earmark part of the € 25 billion emergency package to Europe’s economy specifically for the cultural and creative sectors.

As the President of the European Commission, Dr Ursula von der Leyen, has announced in the pressthat the European Commission intends to be as flexible as possible, we very much hope that you can provide positive answers to our suggestions.

Yours sincerely,

Signatories:

Culture Action Europe – www.cultureactioneurope.org

IETM – International network for contemporary performing arts www.ietm.org

The European Choral Association – Europa Cantat – www.europeanchoralassociation.org

ECSA – European Composer and Songwriter Alliance – www.composeralliance.org

European Cultural Foundation – www.culturalfoundation.eu

European Music Council – www.emc-imc.org

Circostrada Network – www.circostrada.org

NEMO – Network of European Museum Organisations – www.ne-mo.org

JMI – Jeunesses Musicales International – www.jmi.net

On the Move – www.on-the-move.org

FACE – Fresh Arts Coalition Europe – www.fresh-europe.org

EUROPA NOSTRA – also on behalf of other members of the European Heritage Alliance 3.3. www.europeanheritagealliance.eu

European Festivals Association (EFA) – www.efa-aef.eu

IN SITU – European Platform for Artistic Creation in Public Spaces – www.in-situ.info

EUNIC – EU National Institutes for Culture – www.eunicglobal.eu

ELIA, globally connected European network in higher arts education – www.elia-artschools.org

ENCC – The European Network of Cultural Centres – www.encc.eu

TEH – Trans Europe Halles – www.teh.net

EJN – Europe Jazz Network – www.europejazz.net

ERIH – European Route of Industrial Heritage – www.erih.net

FEDEC – European federation of professional circus schools – www.fedec.eu

AEC – Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen- www.aec-music.eu

ENCATC, European Network on cultural management and policy – www.encatc.org International Music Council – www.imc-cim.org

Soluzionimuseali ims – soluzionimuseali.com

ACCR – Association des Centres culturels de rencontre – www.accr-europe.org

Future For Religious Heritage – www.frh-europe.org

European Concert Hall Organisation – www.concerthallorganisation.eu

European Association of Archaeologists www.e-a-a.org

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) https://www.ifla.org/

Cumulus International Association of Universities and Colleges in Art, Design and Media – www.cumulusassociation.org

International Music Council www.imc-cim.org

RESEO – European Network for Opera, Music and Dance Education www.reseo.org

ETC – European Theatre Convention www.europeantheatre.eu

ITI Germany www.iti-germany.de

ResArtis www.resartis.org

European Historic Houses www.europeanhistorichouses.eu

Europeana Foundation www.pro.europeana.eu

European Dancehouse Network www.ednetwork.eu

European Early Music Network www.rema-eemn.net

EMCY – European Union of Music Competitions for Youth  www.emcy.org

REMA – Early Music in Europe www.rema-eemn.net

ICOMOS International Council on Monuments and Sites www.icomos.org

Live DMA  www.live-dma.eu

BSCC – The Baltic Sea Cultural Centre  www.nck.org.pl