Negotiations with the Ministry have taken place without result / Article / LSM.lv

The talks of the representatives of Latvian event industry technical support companies with the Ministry of Culture on solving problems in the industry took place on August 12 “without any results”, Normunds Eilands, the head of the Latvian event industry technical support companies association, told the media.

Talks with the Ministry of Culture were organized after the event held by the technical support companies of the event sector on 11 August picket “Culture MUST Work”, during which the industry tried to draw the attention of the public and the government to the critical situation in the industry.

As Normunds Eilands explained: “Picketing is one of the most extreme forms of expression, which shows that the problems that have affected its participants really need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

On August 11, the Latvian Association of Technical Support Companies also sent a letter to the Ministries of Culture, Economy and Finance outlining the association’s recommendations and requirements, including an explanation of why existing support programs do not reach a large number of technical support companies, Eilands said.

“Gan picket day from the Minister of Culture Naura Puntuulis (National Union) and the next day “Morning Panorama” show Promises were made from Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (“New Unity”) that the industry has been heard and a solution will be found! ” Eiland emphasized that, in the context of these promises, the talks with the Ministry of Culture on 12 August had been disappointing.

In his statement to the media after the meeting on August 12, Nauris Puntulis emphasized:

“I am pleased with today’s constructive dialogue.

During the meeting we have discussed all the issues mentioned in the association’s letter – both the inclusion of NACE codes corresponding to the sector in various support mechanisms, and discussed and explained the regulations of the State Cultural Capital Fund program “Sustainability of Covid-19 Affected Cultural Institutions”. etc. I asked to delegate a representative of the association to the Advisory Council of Event Organizers and Private Producers of Events of the Ministry of Culture, so that the industry would be actively involved in the process of making all binding decisions.

On August 12, Agris Galiņš, Aldis Janevics and Valērijs Makrekovs, delegated representatives of the Association of Technical Support Companies of the Event Sector, met with the Minister of Culture Nauri Puntuli and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture Daci Vilsoni.

Eilands emphasized that in these talks, the currently available support programs of the State Cultural Capital Fund (SCCF) and the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) were once again presented to the representatives of the industry.

At the meeting, we were once again introduced to the State Cultural Capital Fund’s (SCCF) program “Sustainability of Covid-19 Affected Cultural Institutions”, the availability and compliance of which we had previously informed in a letter to only a part of our represented companies.

The solutions we offered so that the program would reach all companies in the industry were considered impossible due to several bureaucratic reasons, and unfortunately we did not receive support in solving the specific issue at this meeting, ”explained Eilands.

“The situation for the SCCF support program is also the program of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency“ Support for tourism companies to overcome the consequences of Covid-19 ”. This support program is also intended for the cultural and event sector, but an even smaller number of Technical Assistance Companies can qualify for it, as its regulations do not include several other NACE codes with which companies in the sector are registered. And again – without the possibility of the Ministry of Culture to influence the changes in the program regulations in the specific point. “

Some technical support companies are engaged in the production, sale, installation, maintenance and service of specialized stage technologies. These are companies that ensure the continuous operation of theaters, concert halls, culture houses and equipment rental companies, so that everything happens smoothly in every show, concert or conference.

After negotiations with the Ministry, the Association of Technical Support Companies of the Latvian Event Industry has concluded that, in the opinion of the Ministry, “this group of companies does not belong to the industry for which it works.”

“Aware that all programs are currently time-limited, and with confirmation that no other support programs are currently planned, we are forced to conclude that the future of our industry is in our own hands!” pointed out Eilands.

Eilands also informed that in response to the invitation of the Minister of Culture, the technical support companies have delegated the Chairman of the Board of SIA “Kompanija NA” Aldis Janevics to the Advisory Council of Event Organizers and Private Producers, hoping that the representative’s processes.

In order to make decisions on future action plans of the Latvian Association of Technical Support Companies, the Latvian Association of Technical Support Companies is also waiting to receive reply letters from the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet of Ministers.

CONTEXT:

Professionals in the technical side of the field are mergedto share express their concerns on the future of the sector and call on the responsible authorities to take decisions to save companies and jobs.

Ministry of Culture stressedthat “a range of support mechanisms” are available to event organizers, including in the cultural sector.

Association of technical support companies of the Latvian event industry calculated bythat on 1 March there were about 700 employees in 100 companies in the sector, excluding the self-employed and micro-enterprises. Last year, the industry paid about 8 million euros in taxes.

To overcome the crisis caused by Covid-19 and economic recovery, investment in culture was decided to allocate 32 million euros: € 10.6 million to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 public cultural institutions and support for creative people; EUR 10.4 million for modernization measures in the cultural sector – public procurement of new cultural assets, as well as EUR 11 million for cultural infrastructure.

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