More than CHF 2 million in Corona aid for the cultural sector

Cultural enterprises and cultural professionals have received support: precisely who was supported by the public funds will not be disclosed, however. Half of the funding was provided by the canton and the Confederation.

The Office for Culture of the Canton of Zug has processed and completed 95 applications for compensation for loss of earnings in the cultural sector in the past year, according to its own data. Fifty-eight of these applications were approved by the respective Office for Culture. The total amount of compensation awarded to cultural enterprises and cultural workers amounted to CHF 2,040,174.45. "This has enabled shortfalls in all cultural sectors to be compensated," it said in a statement.

The losses resulted, among other things, from cancellations of events, the closure of institutions or the lack of performance fees. According to the Federal Ordinance, cultural enterprises (i.e. legal entities under private law, such as associations, clubs, foundations, cooperatives, joint-stock companies, limited liability companies with registered office in the canton of Zug) and self-employed cultural professionals (individual companies and natural persons residing in the canton of Zug) are entitled to apply for compensation for loss of earnings. Half of the provided funds were borne by the canton and half by the Confederation. The canton of Zug provided an emergency package of CHF 5 million from the lottery fund in the spring of 2020.

Highest compensation was over half a million Swiss francs
52 applications for compensation for loss of earnings were received from cultural enterprises. Eighteen of these could not be processed further 'because the respective enterprises did not belong to the scope defined by the Confederation'. One application was withdrawn, and 3 compensation requests totalling CHF 1,923,357.55 were granted. The lowest compensation amount was CHF 2,622.50, and the highest was CHF 531,398.10.

A total of 43 applications were received from persons from the cultural sector. 15 of these were rejected and, in the case of three applications, there was no longer any financial damage after deduction of the loss of earnings allowance. 25 compensation requests were granted, totalling CHF 116,816.90. The lowest default compensation was CHF 828.80, the highest was CHF 14,085.45.

The Conference of the Cantonal Cultural Commissioners KBK and the Federal Office of Culture BAK have agreed not to communicate the names of the cultural enterprises and cultural professionals who have received compensation for loss of earnings. "This would only be possible if the parties concerned gave the express consent. In contrast to the granting of contributions from the regular Cultural Promotion fund, the granting of compensation for loss of earnings can be directly determined from the economic situation of those affected," writes the Office of Culture, as the justification for anonymity. "The protection of business confidentiality and personal privacy thereby outweighs the public interest."

Applications can be made up to 30 November
In addition to the compensation for loss of earnings, the canton of Zug can provide financial support to "transformation projects" within the framework of the Covid 19 Cultural Ordinance, according to the communication. Applications for this kind of support, as well as compensation for loss of earnings can be submitted up to 30 November 2021.

Further information can be found on the website of the Office of Culture.