The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought attention to the precarious working conditions of many cultural workers and artists employed within the CCS. Freelance and short term contracts for employees make up about 70 % of the CCS workforce. The pandemic situation has drawn back the veil over the lack of proper regulations and social policies protecting short term employees and freelancers, as professionals all over the EU lose both their income and their employment.
The cultural and creative sectors are now threatened by massive unemployment and loss of revenue. It has been extensively argued that the national aid programs and measures taken to protect the cultural and creative sectors fall far short of reaching the very individual workers and artists who need it most.
Artists and experts from Sweden, Ukraine, Scotland, Ireland and Lithuania have been invited to discuss the national cultural policies in each nation state and share their views on the current situation.
Do cultural and creative workers across the EU have the same rights or equal access to social protection? How do the hourly rates and monthly wages for CCS workers differ from country to country? How can intercultural, cross border projects make sure that commissioned artists get equitable pay for their work?
How can we work together to promote European solidarity and equality for freelancers and short term contract employees in the cultural and creative sectors? Does strategic, international action matter? These and other questions are discussed in this webinar, organised by Intercult and Smart.
