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Factsheet for measure NO-2020-11/2112 Updated – measures in Norway

Compensation scheme for cultural sector

Kompensasjonsordning for kultursektoren

Country Norway , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 08 March 2020 – 30 June 2022
Context COVID-19
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation
Author Aasmund Arup Seip, FAFO and Eurofound
Measure added 05 January 2022 (updated 04 February 2022)

Background information

A compensation scheme has been introduced for the cultural sector for cancelled, closed or scaled-down cultural events as a result of advice or orders from public authorities in connection with COVID-19. The compensation scheme does not include cultural institutions that receive 60% or more of their income as subsidies from the Norwegian Government. Museums and performing arts institutions in this category have been allocated government funding through other schemes.

Content of measure

On behalf of the Norwegian Ministry of Culture, Arts Council Norway is managing a compensation scheme for the arts and cultural sector. The scheme is directed towards cultural organisers who had to cancel or postpone events due to restrictions and bans imposed by the healthcare authorities or the government as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The scheme will compensate for the loss of income from ticket sales and participation fees, as well as additional expenses because of events having to be cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus. Organisers are covered up to 95% of their unavoidable costs related to cancelled or scaled-down cultural events, but compensation can be rejected or reduced if the organiser had not made realistic plans for the cultural event. Subcontractors can be compensated for up to 50% of lost revenue and additional expenses.

On 26 June 2020, the Ministry of Culture announced that the scheme will be extended to also apply to losses and additional expenses for subcontractors, e.g. suppliers of sound, light and stage from 1 May 2020. The scheme has been extended several times.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

04 January 2022

The 4 January 2022, the government stated that the scheme will be change from 1 November. Both organisers and subcontractors will be able to apply for compensation on the basis of lost sales from cultural events. The compensation rate is set at 70%. It will be possible to have a profit from events in the company, but not to withdraw dividends. In the first half of 2022 the scheme will have a framework of NOK 400 million (€40 million).

02 December 2021

The 2 December 2021, the government announced that the compensation scheme for the cultural sector that will compensate organizers and subcontractors in the cultural sector for losses related to cancelled, closed or scaled-down cultural events as a result of advice or orders given by public authorities, will be continued with essentially the same structure as in the first half of 2021. The scheme is currently valid until the end of October 2021 but will be extended until the first half of 2022. The Ministry of Culture has sent for consultation proposed regulations for the period 1 November 2021 to 28 February 2022. Consultation deadline 11 January 2022.

09 September 2021

The compensation scheme for the cultural sector has been extended to apply until October 2021 and will be extended until December 2021 as soon as the regulations have been approved by ESA. Organizers are covered up to 95% of their unavoidable costs related to cancelled or scaled-down cultural events, but compensation can be rejected or reduced if the organizer had not made realistic plans for the cultural event. Subcontractors can be compensated for up to 50% of lost revenue and additional expenses.

Use of measure

The first application deadline was 21 April 2020. 271 applicants received compensation in the first round.

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
Public support service providers
National funds

Social partners

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

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Consulted Consulted
Form Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

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

  • Social partners jointly
  • Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners have been consulted regularly during the design and implementation of the measure.

Views and reactions

The social partners are supportive of the measure.

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      R - Arts, Entertainment And Recreation R90 Creative, arts and entertainment activities

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Compensation scheme for cultural sector, measure NO-2020-11/2112 (measures in Norway), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/NO-2020-11_2112.html

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