Speech by the General Secretary of AKEL A.Kyprianou, to the Conference on: “Culture in the era of economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. Impact-Perspectives»

 

9^th November 2020, Journalist’s House, Nicosia

Welcome to the Conference on Culture organized by our Party, in cooperation with the Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) in the European Parliament. Our Conference aims to set out the positions and initiatives that our Party has undertaken recently, both in Cyprus and the EU to support cultural creation. It also seeks to listen to the proposals of the people of Culture themselves. It is widely acknowledged that cultural artists are facing severe problems due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

First of all permit us to welcome the active public intervention and actions of artists. We consider your demand for substantial support measures to be taken by the State as fully justified. We reiterate AKEL’s demand for the Institutional Safeguarding of the Participation of Cultural Agencies/Organisations in the decision-making processes and their treatment on the part of the relevant Ministry, as equal partners on cultural matters.

According to estimates released by the European Commission, people employed in the field of Culture, in the first months of the Covid-19 pandemic, lost approximately 80% of their turnover. Given that the Culture and Creation Sector across the EU accounts for 4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) and for over 7.4 million jobs, one can easily assess the magnitude of the impact on the overall economic and social life of states.

We also point out that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been a continuation of the major problems that have been caused by the severe economic crisis of recent years. This, due to the austerity policies imposed, has negatively affected cultural creation, exacerbating the already precarious job position of cultural artists-creators and more broadly of those employed in the field of Culture.

That is precisely why we need to unite and work even harder, so that the government ruling forces at long last put Culture high among their priorities. The statement by the competent Minister, replying to criticism about the long delay in the payment of the minimum allowance for artists, that “I had other issues to deal with”, unfortunately demonstrates the current government’s whole philosophy on Culture.

For AKEL, cultural creation is a necessary precondition for any society that seeks the intellectual development of the people, respects itself and aspires to achieve real progress. Cultural creation is intertwined with the existence of our Party. From the very first moment since its foundation, AKEL was fully conscious of the value of Culture for building a country, its value as an indicator of society’s prosperity or decline.

Culture was the pillar of support upon which all the timeless values ​​of the people’s movement of the Left in Cyprus were built. True culture, at the core of which, as the great Cypriot poet Tefkros Anthias wrote, “lies ethos, humanity and beauty”, is the source that can quench the thirst of people from the drought of misery, greed, violence and exploitation.

It is the force that can break down prejudices, sharpen people’s memory, highlight the truth and inspire and strengthen solidarity and faith in the future – our future.

In our homeland, art and culture represent an additional great asset in our people’s struggle against the occupation and division. An asset that should unite all people regardless of religion, race and colour. The value and power of cultural creation was solemnly confirmed during the very difficult days of the lockdown as culture offered important breaths of entertainment, helping people to make creative use of their endless hours of confinement.

It is in this context that AKEL is undertaking constant initiatives to promote and support Cultural Creation.

Initiatives were taken before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, included highlighting issues such as the delays and regressions in the establishment of a Deputy Ministry of Culture, the reduced budgets allocated for culture and the institutional safeguarding of cultural artists, the campaign against the construction of a hotel on the antiquities site in the Municipality of Yeroskipou, the attempts to change the character of the Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios Old Mansion in Old Nicosia, the uncertainty regarding the need to build a State Library, the delay observed in the construction of the New Archaeological Museum, the non-transparency witnessed in the implementation of the law providing for the enrichment of Public buildings under construction with works of art, the deepening of the artistic education in schools, the establishment of a Public University Music School and the insufficient support provided to organizations voluntarily dealing with Culture and much more.

AKEL’s initiatives and actions continued with even greater intensity during the pandemic. From the very beginning, we called on the government to elaborate and promote a comprehensive package of support measures for cultural artists. In our letter addressed to the Ministry of Education and Culture, we stressed, inter alia, that: “the crisis due to Covid-19 has severely affected Cypriot cultural artists, having created an intense feeling of anxiety and insecurity for the day after. At the same time, one can accurately calculate with precision the conditions we will face in the future, especially with regards whether we will be able to return to the conditions that existed before the crisis. That is precisely why the government must prioritize providing unwavering support towards all aspects of cultural creation and those involved.”

We also addressed all the official bodies that pursue a policy on Culture, the Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOK), the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (RIK) and Local Government and asked them to continue their cultural intervention, making use of all the funds allocated to them. We welcome the attitude of the above Organizations that didn’t hide behind the pandemic, but found ways to provide support towards cultural artists, while supporting all those involved in the field of Culture. We also raised issues in relation to Culture in Parliament too, whilst repeatedly addressing the Ministries of Health, Finance and Labour calling on them to provide support measures for culture.

We have taken initiatives in the European Parliament by tabling questions, but also by submitting concrete proposals for short-term and long-term responses to the effects of the pandemic.

Finally, our contacts with Cultural Institutions/Agencies/Organisations were continuous, listening to their proposals and taking their suggestions very seriously into account. This ongoing contact led to the submission of comprehensive proposals to the competent Cultural Services.

Regrettably, we are not satisfied with the government’s response to our proposals. The measures taken were insufficient and were taken belatedly and only after the protests of cultural workers/artists and our Party.

The allowance given couldn’t cover essential needs, nor did it cover all those most in need. As far as the health protocols are concerned, many times, all the government’s rigor was exhausted on cultural activity and a double-standards policy was pursued, despite the exemplary dedication of the organizers of events to apply these protocols.

The severity and magnitude of the problems Culture is facing, but also the uncertainty as to the speedy return to the pre-coronavirus state of affairs, demands substantive and long-term measures be taken.

The government cannot continue to perceive cultural activity as if there are no effects arising from the pandemic.

The Budget of the Cultural Services of the Ministry for 2021 is at the same low levels. The government must substantially increase spending on culture and make use of part of the funds from the EU support package worth 1.1 billion Euros, allocating them to Cultural artists too, who are on the brink of catastrophe. At the same time, it must assert in the EU, within the framework of the 2019-2024 “Creative Europe” program, increased funds for the cultural development of Europe, which of course includes Cyprus.

At this point, I’d like to refer to some important issues that are currently in the news:

1. The issue of a Deputy Ministry of Culture: It is well known that the government, with considerable delay and regressions, has decided to create a Deputy Ministry of Culture. In our recent meeting with the Education Minister Mr. Prodromou, I expressed AKEL’s support for the establishment of such a Ministry, provided that we agree on its content. At the same time, we expressed our Party’s readiness to take part in a meaningful dialogue with the competent Ministry, which has the responsibility to present the Bill to Parliament. The role of the Cultural agencies/institutions is also important in this process, as they must be called upon to participate in such a dialogue, without any pre-determined decisions. The opinion of the Organizations that should be integrated into the Ministry is also important. So far we have no information about the final content of the Council of Minister’s proposal.
2. Status of artists: The speeding up of the submission of a Bill for the professional certification of artists is necessary, taking into account their specific working conditions. All cultural and professional artists must be able to live with dignity from the work they produce. Unemployment, job insecurity and the absence of dignified pensions are today more than ever the biggest problems facing all artists. In this context, issues such as collective agreements, social insurance and copyright matters must be re-discussed and evaluated in the light of the pandemic. On this issue too, the substantive participation of cultural institutions/agencies in the ongoing process of the Bill’s elaboration is imperative.
3. Antiquities: The government, after the Archbishop’s intervention, for the first time in the history of the Republic of Cyprus, proceeded to the declassification of a very important Site, removing it from Table B as was the practice of the Department of Antiquities to date. This development, in addition to the alteration of the existing Site, has opened the Pandora’s Box for all the sites under the ownership of the church and EFKAB with dangerous ramifications for the effective protection of Cyprus’ cultural heritage.

Another negative development was the Archbishop’s attempt to alter the character of the site of the old Mansion House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios in Old Nicosia, while other projects/works planned in the near future are also putting existing archeological sites in danger.

For AKEL, it is clear that our country’s cultural heritage belongs to the people, is owned by the state and cannot be sacrificed for the sake of any business activity and government dealings/trading with powerful economic or ecclesiastical interests. That is precisely why we demand the revocation of any fait accompli that have been created by the declassification of the site in Yeroskipou, as well as the protection from any future illegal and reckless developments.

4. Works of Art: The House of Representatives passed a relevant proposal submitted by AKEL, for the enrichment of public buildings with works of art. The Law, amended in 2009, provides that “at the stage of preparing the budget for the construction of any public building a provision should be taken by the agency, so that at least a percentage equal to 1% of the total construction cost of the building is allocated for its enrichment with works of art”. Unfortunately, despite the fact that so many years have passed since its approval – and with very few exceptions – this Legislation isn’t being implemented. The executive power has the constitutional obligation to apply the law. Otherwise ways must be found to force it to do so.

In closing, as AKEL we reiterate that we shall continue to put Culture very high among our political actions. On course for the 23rd Congress of the Party, we submit our proposal to all cultural artists and those working in the field of Culture. We submit our proposal on Culture for an open discussion to be carried out with society. We invite you all, as of today, to submit your own views and suggestions so that we can elaborate comprehensive and scientifically-substantiated positions on all art forms, music, dance, theatre, visual arts, cinema and literature. On popular culture, bi-communal and intercultural programs, artistic education, amateur theatre and in general for all cultural activities.

AKEL will always be on the side of cultural artists and workers because it recognizes the extent of their contribution to society – especially in the current conditions, where the economic crisis and Covid-19 pandemic have exacerbated the position of those employed in the field of Culture.

AKEL will intensify its efforts to provide effective support towards Cypriot creators.

Together we can do it.