Financial Support to the Cultural Sector During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Government of the Republic of Serbia has made significant efforts to protect cultural life by enacting financial measures for the cultural sector in order to encourage artists and cultural organizations to participate in a digital environment. First, under the state of emergency, the Government of the Republic of Serbia adopted a set of financial measures The Program of Economic Measures to Mitigate the Negative Effects Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic and Support the Serbian Economy, which covered all business entities, including those in the creative industries. The support entailed several measures: • tax reliefs for the private sector in the form of deferred payment of salary taxes and contributions during the state of emergency, with liabilities paid in installments later (the earliest from 2021); • direct payment to business entities, with payment of three minimal wages to entrepreneurs, micro, small, and medium-sized companies in the private sector (which make up for the majority of entities in culture); • affordable credit programs with lower interest rates and guarantees; • payment of a one-time direct relief of 100 EUR in dinar equivalent to all adults in the Republic of Serbia, as well as those working in the cultural sector. Another important measure for independent artists was the government's decision to provide non-refundable financial aid to independent artists and professionals during the difficult times of the pandemic, in the amount of 2 million USD, paid in neto value to independent cultural workers for 90,000 RSD (873,79 USD). The City of Belgrade supported artists and professionals without regular jobs. Given that theaters and cultural institutions in Belgrade were closed at the beginning of the pandemic, the capital provided direct financial assistance to independent artists and professionals that collaborate with the cultural institutions of Belgrade.