President Higgins responds to the employment crisis of the Arts and Cultural Sector in the European Union by writing to Heads of European Institutions, and his Presidential colleagues in the Arraiolos Group, on the importance of protecting the space of art and culture and those who work in it.

Conscious of the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on all aspects of society, and particularly those who work in the performance of the arts and the institutions related to them, President Higgins has this week written to the heads of European institutions with an urgent call to support cultural institutions and workers.

With movement of people limited, almost all museums, theatres, libraries and heritage sites are closed to the public, the Covid-19 crisis has struck the cultural sector very hard.

Given this fundament threat to the arts sector, President Higgins has taken this step of writing to the Heads of European institutions so as to ensure that the threats to the culture sector in the European Union and the Member States are treated as a European, as well as Member State, problem. 

The letter explains the significance of culture in the European Union. The cultural space is a fundamental part of democracy and the public world with a particular set of employment conditions and vulnerabilities.

The central importance of  culture and creativity is a core theme in the Presidency of President Higgins, who was Ireland’s first Culture Minister (1993-1997) and who was President of the Council of Culture Ministers of the European Union in 1996 when Ireland held the Presidency of the EU. Stressing the importance of giving recognition to, and encouraging the development of, culture and creativity in our societies, President Higgins has asked for support across Europe for what is an emergency in terms of the future of creativity, work of the human spirit, from which all benefit, and which society needs to survive and flourish in achieving the fullness of democracy.

The text of the President’s letters is available below.

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lency Mr. David Sassoli
President of the European Parliament

4th June, 2020

Dear President Sassoli,

As a former President of the Council of Culture Ministers of the European Union, I write to you to stress the need for, and seek support for initiatives that I believe are urgently needed to make good a lacuna we have experienced in our European Union – recognising and realising the contribution of culture, cultural workers and artists. When I had the honour of being President of the Council of Culture Ministers of the European Union during the Irish Presidency of the Union in 1996, not only in that year but so often before and since, I heard the phrase attributed to Jean Monnet – nobody ever gave the source of the phrase – ‘If I were starting again I would start with culture’.

I write to suggest that in our response to Covid-19 and its devastating consequences for cultural practitioners, we have been given a golden opportunity to address this neglected dimension of the European Union’s possibilities and capacities, be it in terms of resources, heritage, shared expression and life by seriously addressing the issues of income, resources and sustenance needs of cultural workers, who have been among those who have suffered most due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I speak of cultural workers in general and performance artists in particular who are affected by both lost audience venues, and conditions of production made near impossible.

Let us, as holders of public offices, past and present in our countries and the European Union ask ourselves, how often have cultural workers, creativity and performances been used to enhance public celebrations, gatherings, national aspirations and affirmations? Not only on such occasions but in the rhythms of our shared community life, have we not received renewal and inspiration from a sharing of culture, our own and that of others? Now the livelihood of workers in the cultural space are in the greatest danger of disappearing from the public world and they are seeking our help, not for themselves I suggest, but for a version of the European Union that represents so much of our hopes for the future – the rich diverse culture of our peoples inherited and contemporary.

We are facing an emergency in the cultural sphere in terms of income, venues, public access, participation, and may I say social cohesion and fulfilment.

Is it not now the time to place access to culture among the necessary infrastructural spending and investment in provisions for Universal Basic Services? Surely, it cannot be beyond us to bring into being a system of support and solidarity for artists, from the emerging to the established? As the Union resumes its necessary commercial and retail transactions, hopefully in a way that shows a reflection having been made on a better fit between ecology, society and economics, can we not look also to the public spaces, the venues for public performance, the basic needs of emerging and classical expressions of all the arts and say – “We commit. This can be an enduring expression of our European Union where culture is made safe for the future and for sharing with the world. We salute the creative expression of the peoples of the European Union and the living conditions of all those who make our lives more fully human by such work. They will have our support and protection.”

I offer my support for such an initiative and would appreciate your support for any set if initiatives that will help achieve the making safe of the space of culture and performance in our European Union for now and into the future.

We have attempted, as a Union small steps before with which I was associated. I so remember how in the past we very nearly succeeded with the Yehudi Menuhin initiative which was to ensure that every child in the European Union would have access to a musical instrument. We didn’t succeed but we tried.

Now we can succeed with a strong step in the most urgent of times. Our artists of all ages and backgrounds, contemporary and classical, need our solidarity now. Let us, together, help them and fill the gap Jean Monnet identified. Let us be able to say “We in our time recognised the importance of ‘The Cultural Space’.

Yours sincerely,

Michael D. Higgins
Uachtarán na hÉireann
President of Ireland

Screen Skills Ireland, the skills development unit within Screen Ireland, is delighted to announce the introduction of a new structured mentoring scheme, Screen Mentoring. Over 100 Irish and international industry professionals from the film, TV, animation, VFX and Immersive Technology sectors have signed up to be mentors for the scheme to give something back to the industry by sharing their knowledge and experience. The scheme will support 50 mentees to avail of mentor support throughout 2020.

Mentors who have signed up to the scheme include Lenny Abrahamson (‘Normal People’), Michael Zam (‘Feud: Bette and Joan’), Ed Guiney (Element Pictures), Cathal Gaffney (Brown Bag Films), Colum Slevin (Facebook AR/VR), Shannon George (‘Blues Clues’), Jo Homewood (‘Black ‘47’), Gilly Fogg (‘Bob The Builder’), Paul Walker (‘EastEnders’), Lisa Mulcahy (‘Years and Years’), Grainne Humphreys (VMDIFF), Alix Wiseman (9 Story), and Patrick O’Neill (Wildcard Distribution). Mentors will provide support across the areas of Business & Producing, Production, Creative & Development and Distribution & Festivals

Award-winning Production Designer and industry mentor, Tom Conroy (‘Vikings’, ‘Tudors’, ‘Intermission’) said “I’m delighted to be part of the Screen Mentoring initiative. When I started off in the film & TV industry, which happened to be in the UK, I was mentored by a number of prominent production designers… I wish to pay it forward, as they generously gave me advice and experience which has proven to be invaluable.”

Gareth Lee, Manager at Screen Skills Ireland, added “We’re delighted to introduce this new Screen Mentoring initiative. Mentoring is a proven way of supporting career progression and this scheme will allow upcoming talent to enhance their development with guidance and support from experienced professionals.”

The Screen Mentoring scheme will provide screen professionals with mentoring support at key stages in their career development that will encompass business, creative and/or technical mentoring. Mentors will offer their mentees practical, tailored advice and guidance based on their industry experience, on a one to one basis. The mentoring will be offered remotely online due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19.

With a panel of key industry mentors now assembled, Screen Skills Ireland is looking for applications from mentees who are seeking the support and guidance of a mentor to learn and grow professionally. In order to apply for the scheme, prospective mentees should visit https://screenmentoring.ie/ and complete the online application form.

The scheme is open to industry professionals working in the Irish screen sector with a minimum of three year’s full-time relevant experience. Diversity and inclusion will be factored into the selection process for all mentees. All mentoring will be offered remotely online due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 restrictions.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP NOW for an online meeting about Social Welfare payments and rent supports available during the COVID-19 crisis and how to navigate them, at 3.30pm on Friday 17th April. Hosted by Irish Equity, SIPTU, The National Campaign For The Arts and Theatre Forum.

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Dear member,

There is now a helpdesk available from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in relation to the COVID-19 Emergency Payment. The Department has agreed to handle individual queries from artists and arts workers about the payment so if you’ve been refused the payment or have a question about your eligibility you can now contact the Department directly, as follows and an official will contact you to discuss your query.

Please email artsunit@chg.gov.ie with the following information:

• your telephone number
• a short description of your question

It is important that all of you who did not qualify for the COVID-19 payment or are still having difficulties accessing it would use this facility so that the Department can see first hand the extent of the problem we are pressing them on.

SIPTU and Irish Equity have written to the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, calling for the Government to urgently increase the financial support for workers in the Arts sector who have been unable to avail of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

SIPTU and Irish Equity Organiser, Karan O Loughlin, said: “Many artists in the PAYE sector are outside the eligibility criteria for the PUP. The fact that they were not working immediately before 13^th March and were not made unemployed at that point disqualifies them. 

“However, the reality is that many were due to start work very shortly after this date or over the course of the summer. This planned work has now disappeared as a direct result of the Covid-19 emergency. Among the artists in this situation are up to 100 performers in the cast of the RTE show, Fair City.

“Artists who are over 66 years of age are also precluded from claiming the PUP despite the fact that they work and perform regularly. It is clear therefore that the Government needs to do more for artists and Arts sector workers to ensure they have enough support to survive this crisis and return to work in their professions.”

She added: “We are calling on the Government to expand the scope of the current self-employed artist social protection scheme. The scheme should include all professional artists and arts workers whether PAYE or self-employed and its payment should be brought up to the level of the Covid-19 PUP.

“The EU Copyright Directive should also be implemented as this would be useful in creating additional income streams for performers and artists whose work is streamed online.”

Read the full text of the letter sent to Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan.

Following significant lobbying by SIPTU and the Irish Congress of trade Unions, the Government announced on 24th March, new measures to provide financial support to Irish workers affected by the Covid-19 crisis for both self-employed and employed workers. This includes also assistance for renters and utility bills etc.

Self Employed

Self-employed workers are eligible for the special Covid 19 unemployment benefit which has been increased to €350 per week

For self-employed workers who become ill are eligible for the Covid 19 illness benefit which has also been increased to €350 per week

If you have already received a payment of any of the Covid 19 benefits then you don’t need to do anything as there will be an automatic adjustment. If you are making a fresh claim, you can do so through this link  https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/eca524-covid-19-information-for-employees/

For Employees (PAYE Workers) 

Revenue will operate a Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme for organisations whose business activities are being adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme, enables employees, whose employment is affected by the pandemic, to receive supports directly from their employer. The scheme will run for 12 weeks from 26 March 2020 but any employee who was on the payroll as at February 29^th is now eligible for these payments and we are in discussion with the producers on running this through payroll wherever possible. The subsidy scheme applies to employers whether they can afford to top up employees’ wages or not.

For employees who become ill they are eligible for the COVID-19 illness benefit which has also been increased to €350 per week

For employees who have been laid off and the employer cannot make payments through the payroll they are eligible for the C19 unemployment benefit of €350 (plus normal payment for any dependants)

In April, the scheme will move to a subsidy payment based on 70% of the weekly average take home pay for each employee up to a maximum of €410 net pay. Income tax and USC will not be applied to the subsidy payment through the payroll. Employee and Employer PRSI will not apply to the subsidy or any top up payment by the employer.

If you have already received a payment of any of the Covid 19 benefits then you don’t need to do anything as there will be an automatic adjustment. If you are making a fresh claim, you can do so through this link  https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/eca524-covid-19-information-for-employees/

We also expect legislation to be passed to tomorrow freezing rents and banning evictions for the next 12 weeks also. As you may be aware the banks have agreed to give workers financially effected by Covid 19 a 3 month break from mortgage payments and applications can be made for this through your on line banking.

Further support measures for renters and utility bills etc can be accessed here:https://www.gov.ie/en/news/a6d8fa-government-announced-new-covid-19-income-support-scheme/

For any questions on the above the email addresses are:

Andrea   aholmes@siptu.ie or equity@siptu.ie
Karan koloughlin@siptu.ie