Background information

The Greek Government, on 6 February 2021 recognising that the cultural sector has been particularly hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, decided to financially support theater companies, music scenes, dance theaters, concert and performance venues, in order to reduce the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (Ministerial Decision No 5774/203/2021). The financial assistance concerns private companies in the sector and will take the form of financial coverage of spectator/ticket seats for three months: October, November and December 2020 if specific conditions are met. Applications for inclusion in the measure begun on 8 February 2021.

Content of measure

Financial support to theaters, music scenes, dance theaters, concert venues and performance venues includes the payment, for the months for October, November and December 2020, of a fixed amount of €10 per spectator/ticket, regardless of the ticket price and for a total maximum of 24 performances per month as follows:

• Payment of an amount corresponding to 40% of the total spectator/ticket seats of each show, for the companies that operated within a period of time in October or November 2020.
• Payment of an amount corresponding to 20% of the total spectator/ticket seats of each show, for companies that did not operate in October or November or December 2020.
  Where more than one performance/project takes place in the same undertaking, the aid shall be paid per production and for a maximum of 24 performances in each.

The beneficiaries of the financial assistance are undertaking which had a positive turnover from 1 January 2019 to 30 September 2020 and now then had a fall in turnover of at least 20% between March 2020 and September 2020 as it is compared to the corresponding period from March 2019 to September 2019.

Use of measure

According to the government's forecasts, the cost of financing theater companies is estimated at around €14 million.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The Association of Theater Producers, following the closure of the theaters due to the COVID-19 and the economic consequences they suffered, had been lobbying the government since October 2020 for financial support of the sector. Among the eight point-requests the theater producers demanded a subsidy of 40% of the theater seats which operated on eight March 2020, with €15 per seat and for up to eight performances per week; a subsidy of 25% of the theater seats that will remain closed during the 2020-2021 season; and for eight performances per week and a subsidy of €5 million for theater companies based on the staff employed on eight March 2020. The government, after bilateral contacts with the theater producers, recognizing the right of their demands, decided to financially support the theaters and to take a corresponding measure.

Views and reactions

The Association of Theater Producers, following the closure of the theaters due to the COVID-19 and the economic consequences they suffered, had been lobbying the government since October 2020 for financial support of the sector. Among the eight point-requests the theater producers demanded a subsidy of 40% of the theater seats which operated on eight March 2020, with €15 per seat and for up to eight performances per week; a subsidy of 25% of the theater seats that will remain closed during the 2020-2021 season; and for eight performances per week and a subsidy of €5 million for theater companies based on the staff employed on eight March 2020.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 23 October 2020: Theater Producers' Association: 8 Support Points for the Theater (Ένωση Θεατρικών Παραγωγών: 8 Σημεία Στήριξης για το Θέατρο (a8inea.com)
• 28 October 2020: Will the producers finally close their theaters on November 15th? (Τελικά, θα κλείσουν οι παραγωγοί τα θέατρα τους στις 15 Νοεμβρίου;
• 06 February 2021: Empowerment of theater companies, music scenes, dance theatres, concert venues and performance venues – detailed information (Ενίσχυση επιχειρήσεων θεάτρων, μουσικών σκηνών, χοροθεάτρων, συναυλιακών χώρων και χώρων παραστάσεων - Όλες οι λεπτομέρειες (www.taxheaven.gr)
• 08 February 2021: Applications for the €10 subsidy per seat in theaters and music scenes is starting (Ξεκινούν οι αιτήσεις για την επιδότηση 10ευρώ ανα θέση σε θέατρα και μουσικές σκηνές) (www.dikaiologitika.gr)
• 11 February 2021: The Ministry of Culture is assisting with € 14 million theaters and music scenes (Το Υπουργείο Πολιτισμού ενισχύει με 14 εκατ. ευρώ θέατρα και μουσικές σκηνές ) (www.protothema.gr)