The free artists, who last year had incomes of up to BGN 1,000 per month, will receive one minimum wage from the state plus insurance. The funds will be provided to them during the state of emergency plus one month thereafter. This was announced by Minister of Culture Boil Banov at a briefing at the Council of Ministers.
“This is a very important support to get through a very important part of the crisis. We worked very actively. At the last meeting was also Minister Sacheva, who provided very strong support. This will demonstrate in the best possible way the state’s concern for the people of art and culture. I very much want people who need this measure to have confidence. To come with the confidence to make a statement. It is not social assistance, but care in a difficult situation, as we then expect the artists to take care of our spirit, our prosperity, our expectation for a positive life”, he announced.
Banov said that there are currently 2200 freelance artists in the country. According to the National Revenue Agency, about 1000-1200 people have earned up to 1000 levs last year and will be able to benefit from this measure by the government.
For her part, the Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Denitsa Sacheva, announced that this would cost the state about 2 million and 700 thousand leva.
Banov stressed that those with higher incomes would be able to take advantage of the measure for drawing an interest-free loan of BGN 1,500 a month. And he added:
“It’s a very powerful tool. These are BGN 1500 per month, which have a 5-year grace period and can then be returned for another 10 years. Due to the repeated increase of the incomes in the country by that time, it is certain that their value will be much less. People with incomes up to 1000 BGN may choose which measure to use.”
Funds are yet to be specified exactly which fund will be allocated, but Banov assured that they have been provided. Applying for both measures should start by the end of the month. Assistance will be retroactive from the start of the emergency.
Banov also said that after that the budgets in the cultural sphere would be drastically increased. The idea was to saturate with space projects.
Translation: Diana Todorova
