Music, cabaret, events: the cultural sector rebels against stagnation

The music industry is an “extremely complex playing field” and has different needs. However, many artists have in common that they lived “hand to mouth” even before the crisis. The existing hardship fund rules simply don’t apply to the music industry. A fixed-cost replacement doesn’t help a musician, according to Tschürtz – Audio at oe1.ORF.at.

He specified his demands on Facebook: how to compensate artists for failures, support their infrastructure, such as venues for events, and “create models for investment capital, as you know it from the startup world,” said Tschürtz.

Rescue package required

Now an initiative has been formed between actors, musicians and other cultural professionals who have applied for a rescue fund for the industry. The effects of the pandemic on “Art, culture, events and creative industries are dramatic. Our industries were the first to close and will also be among the last to fully resume their work, ”said a press release on Tuesday.

“We do not want to be supplicants, but we are demanding government support for all those who currently cannot work and are allowed to work artistically,” the group said. In a crisis like the current one, politics needs “special commitment, clarity, knowledge of artistic life and labor realities, reliability and courage. We currently miss him. “

“Contempt for the industry”

Financial compensation for non-ticket sales, short-term work rules for “short-term employees” as found in the cultural sector, and an extension of short-term work rules and relief funds were required until everyone working in the event and maintenance industry returned to work allowed to record 100 percent. In addition to percussionist Martin Grubinger, actors Erwin Steinhauer and Adele Neuhauser and SPÖ culture spokesman Thomas Drozda were at the forefront of the initiators.

Co-initiator was also the cabaret artist Lukas Resetarits. Having caused a stir in recent days with a video, on Monday he reiterated his harsh criticism of Lunacek’s crisis management at ZIB2. “I am angry because it is a disregard for our entire industry.” No contact was made, even if the entire industry, which had been very supportive of the Greens in the past, behaved exemplary in the pandemic, Resetarits said.

This was also the notch in Austrian literary houses, which addressed an open letter to Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler (Greens) and Lunacek. The current situation is a catastrophe for literary operations, so security planning was demanded “today”. On Tuesday, eight local orchestras made a similar statement in a statement addressed to Lunacek, more on this at wien.ORF.at.

Criticism of the procedure.

In an open letter, more than 50 artists and festival directors also turned to the government on Monday. They also called for specific measures for the industry. The seven-page letter called for a fundamental commitment to art and culture and criticized the above procedure. “With a six-week delay and after understandable media outrage, they were looking for conversations with some real experts in the art and culture industry.” According to the media that reported on this, this should have led to controversial results and initially to no concrete result, “he said.

“More than 100 small and medium summer festivals face the season or, depending on it, the full finale, if they have not yet been canceled,” the letter says. It was started by pianist and conductor Florian Krumpöck, and the signers also included theater directors, actors, musicians and festival directors.

Lunacek: “I hear all this”

On Monday, numerous organizers of the event tried to draw attention to their situation with a silent protest. With a convoy of dozens of trucks in the Vienna Ring, they protested against the impossibility of planning.

Lunacek said he was aware of the concerns of the industry. “I listen to all this, I also speak to many.” Various requests, open letters, and others came to her, “where people just say we want these openings now.” You are working hard on a gradual plan for relaxation. “There are still details to be clarified, and yes, my plan is to present these days, like the next months, June and then also July, August, what rules can there be here,” said Lunacek – Audio at oe1.ORF. to. She admits mistakes “very well too”.