KAT Chairman Gerin Trautenberger: "Now it's all about fairness for all companies".

Creative professionals as service providers and suppliers for art and culture massively affected - rapid financial assistance necessary.

The recent closure of art and culture businesses has had an existential impact on the creative industries. The creative industries were one of the first sectors to be economically affected by the spread of the corona virus and the measures taken to contain the virus, and are probably also among the sectors that have had to struggle longest with restrictions and the economic consequences of the crisis. The creative industries are service providers and suppliers for the cultural sector: cancelled cultural events and closed museums, theatres, cinemas and other cultural businesses mean fewer or no orders for many. Sectors such as cultural mediation, photography, event management, advertising, audiovisual, film technology, music producers, sound studios/sound technology in the context of (cultural) events are particularly hard hit as part of the overall value creation system.

"The current situation is about justice and fairness for all businesses - for those that are open, and for those that have to close, including those indirectly affected", emphasises Gerin Trautenberger, Chairman of KAT (Kreativwirtschaft Austria) in the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber. Service providers, suppliers and content providers from the creative industries, who are now once again losing their orders, such as event organisers, film distributors, agencies, photographers, technicians, cameramen, producers, theatre publishers or self-employed artists and cultural workers, need financial support and a turnover substitute quickly. In any case, there is also a need for the fixed cost subsidy, which must now finally be available and paid out, as well as additional investment incentives in the creative industries, such as the creative industry or "transformation check", the KAT spokesman emphasizes.

"Especially in times of crisis, the creative industries are needed for the economy because of their problem-solving competence and innovative power. It is a driver of digitization and supports companies in transforming their business models and distribution channels during the crisis. If the creative industry goes under as a result of the crisis, it will not be available to the rest of the economy as a motor for a new start as a competent service provider," Trautenberger emphasises.

 

To the APA OTS broadcast of 2.11.2020.

 

Photo: Alexander Wieselthaler