Stopping the corona support packages comes too early for the cultural sector, because it will not be possible to ‘start everything again’ without compensation. So says Boris van der Ham, chairman of the Association of Free Theater Producers (VVTP). In the coming months, producers will ‘still make a lot of loss’, he expects.
The government’s corona support package will end from 1 April, which means that support schemes will be discontinued that provide companies with an allowance for wage costs, fixed costs and the deferral of tax payments. In addition, a special scheme for self-employed persons will be discontinued.
“In order to keep the free theater producers going, sector-specific additional support is also indispensable when the theaters are fully opened,” says Van der Ham. The VVTP consists of about thirty theater and music producers, who together provide about 70 percent of the professional stage offer in the Netherlands. “Among other things, because of the virtually halted ticket sales during the lockdown in recent months, it takes time to catch up with ticket sales again.”
In addition to extending the compensation, it is ‘desperately necessary to come to a recovery plan with the State Secretary and financial start-up support’, according to the chairman. ,,That allows us to invest in the next season, where our financial possibilities are now exhausted. A (re-)start subsidy is needed to help both theaters and independent theater producers to survive, but also to program a good offer.”
The news about the cancellation of the support measures comes on the same day as most corona measures will expire, including reduced capacity and earlier closing time. As of today, theaters can also receive more people and keep their doors open longer.
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