Germany launches 50 billion aid plan. Minister Grütters: also useful for culture

Germany yesterday announced a 50-billion-euro aid plan to support small businesses and self-employed workers hurt by the health emergency over the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. There are three pillars on which the plan is based: helping small businesses, ensuring the safety of workers and mitigating hardship. The effects of the plan, which affects companies and workers in all production sectors, will also be of beneficial value to the cultural sector, Monika Grütters, Germany’s culture minister, said in a note. “The cultural sector,” she said, “is characterized by a high percentage of self-employed workers who are now struggling to survive. I am therefore pleased to be able to announce that help is on the way, with as much speed and as little bureaucracy as possible.”

The package is thus divided into three actions. The first concerns aid to businesses and self-employed workers: the 50 billion is allocated in the form of direct grants that will help small businesses and the self-employed to cover their costs per live. As for the cultural sector, this sum will be used to cover, for example, rental costs for movie theaters, music clubs, artists’ studios, business premises, and lease payments. Aid will be distributed over the next three months between small businesses with up to five employees, which will get a grant of nine thousand euros, and those with up to ten employees, which will get a grant of fifteen thousand euros.

The second action, on the other hand, concerns social security, guaranteed with an additional ten billion granted in the form of subsidies for access to childcare and grants to cover housing expenses for those who are forced to stay in their homes. The third action is a plan to reduce the negative impact of the crisis on workers: it is a package of social security support that includes, for example, access to special funds by those who have lost income, or reduction of contributions and postponement of tax advances. The aid will cover a period of six months.

“The protective measures agreed upon today,” said Grütters, “show that the federal government is determined to do everything possible to counter the devastating consequences on culture and creativity of the Covid-19 pandemic. We will not let anyone down: as the federal government we are delivering on our promises with packages worth billions of euros.” Grütters concluded by saying that “in this situation, unimaginable until recently, democratic society needs its diverse cultural landscape. The courage of creative people will be able to help us overcome the crisis. We will have to seize all opportunities to build a good future. For this, artists are not only indispensable, but absolutely vital.”

Pictured: Monika Grütters.

Germany launches 50 billion aid plan. Minister Grütters: also useful for culture

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