Support of the Rights of Freelance Artists and Encouraging Cultural Creativity

The legislator has acknowledged the special status of freelance artists in comparison with other workers. They have the right to retirement and disability insurance and to health insurance, and these contributions are paid from the state budget. The key objective of this measure is encouraging and promoting the diversity of creative work through giving the basic social security framework support for the freelance artists. A freelance artist is entitled to retirement and disability insurance on the basis of his or her creative work and so can apply to have his or her contributions paid from the National Budget, as long as he or she meets the criteria laid down in the Regulations about the procedures and conditions for the recognition of the rights of artists to have their retirement, disability and medical insurance paid out of the national budget of the Republic of Croatia. A three-year evaluation period is also included. Applications by the artists are considered by the Expert Commission, and decisions are subsequently confirmed by the Minister of Culture and Media. When the Expert Commission has made a favourable decision, the Croatian Association of Freelance Artists registers the freelance artist with the Croatian Institute for Retirement Insurance and the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance according to an artist's place of residence. There are 30 professional artist associations which appoint their members to the expert commissions.