Culture on minimum wage - no go!

Description

Culture is one of the sectors most affected by corona crises, while pandemic circumstances have underlined its cohesive potential and importance for social recovery. Research shows that even before the crisis, working conditions in culture were poor. However, in 2015, the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia showed that it does not care about working conditions in NGOs by changing guidelines for the Public needs in Culture Open Call and declaring salary costs non eligible. These workers were also left out of the crisis measures. The aim of the project is to empower workers, artists and NGOs in the field of culture in Croatia in self-organization and joint advocacy of cultural policies based on the principles of public good and decent working conditions. We request a change in the conditions of the Open call for Public needs in culture which would make salaries and indirect costs in the amount of up to 25% an eligible costs, and an increase of the total budget for public needs. Our 1st activity involves hiring a legal expert to investigate national laws and other acts that can serve as a basis for advocating changes. Through 2nd activity, mobilization of target groups, we will build a strong "back up" and provide support to our demands. In the 3rd activity we will conduct a public campaign that will culminate before the announcement of the Open cal for public needs in culture. Our primary beneficiaries are NGOs (workers, associates, members), initiatives, art organizations and associations of cultural NGOs, which we want to empower and mobilize for grounded advocacy. We also aim at the support of the wider cultural and NGO field, unions, public institutions and decision makers, since it is in the interest of all of them to have an accessible culture produced in adequate conditions. The only way to achieve that is to fight for it ourselves.

Summary of project results

The project aimed to address several interconnected challenges faced by the cultural sector, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing structural issues in the sector. The main challenges identified were:

1. Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on the Cultural Sector:

   • The cultural and creative sectors were among the most affected by the COVID-19 crisis, which exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. According to studies conducted by the European Parliament''s CULT Committee and other research in Croatia, the crisis highlighted the instability of structures and insecure working conditions that were already prevalent in the sector before the pandemic.
   • This impact was particularly severe on civil society organizations (CSOs) within the cultural sector, which faced disruptions in their activities and financing, leading to a critical need for recovery measures.

2. Inadequate Infrastructure and Working Conditions:

   • Even before the pandemic, the cultural sector struggled with inadequate infrastructure, unstable working conditions, and insufficient funding. These issues were further exacerbated by the pandemic, with many cultural workers facing precarious employment and low pay. The project specifically highlighted the need to secure fair wages and sustainable income sources for cultural workers, as many of them rely on short-term, low-paid contracts or freelance work.

3. Lack of Support for Cultural Workers and Organizations:

   • The Croatian Ministry of Culture and Media (MKM) had previously failed to recognize the importance of jobs within CSOs in the cultural sector. A decision made in 2015 removed the possibility of funding salary expenses through cultural programs, making it difficult for cultural organizations to provide stable employment.
   • This issue persisted despite the ongoing challenges faced by the sector, with inadequate funding and resources allocated to support cultural workers, especially in smaller cities and for less professionalized organizations.
   • The project also aimed to address the lack of adequate financial support for cultural workers during crises such as the pandemic and the earthquake, advocating for changes to ensure that cultural workers are not excluded from government recovery plans.

4. Lack of Fair Funding Allocation:

   • The current allocation of cultural funds through the "Culture Needs" program was considered insufficient, with limited support available for salaries and operational costs. This lack of funding, especially for smaller organizations, had a detrimental impact on the sustainability of the cultural sector and the ability to retain skilled cultural workers.
   • Additionally, the concentration of funds in larger cities and more professionalized organizations left smaller or emerging cultural initiatives with limited access to financial support, further widening the gap between different sectors within the cultural field.

Objective of the Project:

The project aimed to address these issues by advocating for:

• Changes in Funding Practices: Specifically, it called for the reinstatement of funding for salary costs (known as "cold running costs") within the Ministry of Culture''s cultural programs.
• Increase in Budget for Public Cultural Needs: The project sought an increase in the overall budget for public cultural needs, ensuring that cultural workers receive fair compensation and that funding is more evenly distributed across different regions and organizations.
• Sustainable Support for Cultural Workers: By advocating for long-term, stable support for cultural workers, the project aimed to create a more sustainable working environment and contribute to the recovery of the cultural sector.

Ultimately, the project sought to empower the cultural sector to recover from the crisis, acknowledging the crucial role culture plays in social cohesion and community rebuilding, particularly in times of crisis.

The project carried out several activities aimed at improving the working conditions within the cultural sector, especially in light of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are the key activities and outputs:

1. Advocacy and Policy Change Requests:

• The project team submitted two specific requests to the Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia (MKM) in preparation for the 2022 call for public cultural programs:
  • Increase the budget for public cultural programs to better support cultural organizations, especially those affected by the pandemic.
  • Allow up to 25% of the budget of public cultural programs to be spent on salaries and operational costs (cold running costs) for non-profit organizations, and include this as an eligible expense in the call for proposals.
• These requests were based on a legal analysis conducted in collaboration with attorney Luka Kurjan, who reviewed the legal framework for funding public cultural programs and identified inconsistencies in the Ministry’s approach, specifically regarding the denial of funding for salaries.

2. Legal Analysis and Communication with Authorities:

• The project involved conducting a legal analysis of the Ministry’s funding practices and regulations. The analysis revealed that the Ministry was violating existing regulations by not recognizing salary costs as eligible expenses and by applying different criteria to different applicants within the same funding call.
• The legal team communicated with various government bodies, including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Labor and Pension System, the Ministry of Justice, the Public Ombudsman, the Office for Associations, and the State Audit Office. Most of these institutions forwarded the inquiries to the Ministry of Culture.
• The Office for Associations confirmed that the Ministry did not seek their opinion before issuing the public call, which would have helped align the guidelines with the legal framework.

3. Public Campaign and Mobilization:

• The project launched a public campaign to raise awareness and gather support for the proposed changes. The campaign included:
  • An online petition that collected support from 720 individuals and 144 organizations, associations, and initiatives from both Croatia and abroad.
  • Media outreach, including public statements and interviews, helped increase visibility and public understanding of the issues at stake.
  • Internal communication efforts (via email, phone calls, and direct meetings) helped mobilize cultural workers, civil society organizations (CSOs), unions, and artists to participate in the campaign and sign the petition.
• This campaign not only generated wide support but also contributed to increased awareness about the dire working conditions in the cultural sector and the importance of preserving strong public funding for culture.

4. Engagement with the Ministry of Culture and Media:

• Following the submission of the requests, the Ministry invited the project team for a meeting on July 22, 2021, where representatives of the Ministry and the cultural sector discussed the issues raised. Unfortunately, no clear answers were provided regarding the Ministry''s failure to comply with regulations or the inconsistent treatment of applicants in the funding call.
• Additionally, this issue was raised at the 5th meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society on July 23, 2021, but again, no significant results were achieved.

5. Outcome – Partial Success in the 2022 Call for Proposals:

• Despite the lack of a full response to the project’s requests, the campaign and legal analysis had a significant impact:
  • The Ministry of Culture and Media responded by amending the conditions of the 2022 call for proposals, allowing salaries to be covered for up to 20% of the budget in six specific areas: innovative artistic and cultural practices, performing arts, visual arts, music and musical theater, cultural amateurism, and literary manifestations.
  • However, the cold running costs (such as overhead expenses) were not recognized as eligible, and the allowed percentage for salaries was lower than requested. The final decision on the overall increase in the budget will only be known after the results of the call are published.
• Positive Outcome: While not all demands were fully met, the partial success in recognizing salary costs is seen as a major step forward for cultural workers, artists, and CSOs in the cultural field. This victory was viewed as a boost for the sector and a step towards achieving better working conditions for cultural professionals.

Conclusion:

The project’s activities focused on advocating for changes to funding conditions, raising awareness about the challenges facing cultural workers, and securing a partial win by influencing the Ministry to adjust the funding guidelines in the 2022 call. Although the full scope of the project’s demands was not met, the success in getting some of the requested changes implemented was a significant achievement for the cultural sector.

The project achieved significant results, impacting both the cultural sector and the broader civil society in Croatia. Here are the key outcomes and their effects on various beneficiaries:

1. Successful Legal Advocacy and Support:

• Luka Kurjan''s Legal Expertise: The involvement of the attorney Luka Kurjan had a highly positive effect. His legal analysis helped identify inconsistencies in the Ministry of Culture and Media''s practices and underscored the importance of contacting other relevant authorities. This legal expertise also contributed to a more structured and argument-based approach to advocacy, helping the team highlight violations of existing regulations and the negative impact on cultural workers.

• Legal Impact: The legal analysis illuminated the Ministry''s practices as being in direct conflict with the legal framework for financing cultural programs. This insight strengthened the project''s advocacy efforts and provided a solid legal foundation for the campaign, especially in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.

2. Mobilization and Support from Civil Society and Cultural Organizations:

• The campaign was supported by a broad coalition of cultural organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), trade unions, and international partners. Key supporters included:
  • Savez udruga Klubtura and Mreža mladih Hrvatske: These organizations were instrumental in raising the issue at the Council for the Development of Civil Society, which brought more visibility and pressure on the Ministry.
  • Positive Force (Pozitivna sila) in Split and Teatro Verrdi in Zadar: Local organizations played an essential role in spreading the campaign’s message, with Teatro Verrdi organizing a public discussion on "The Privatization of Culture" that featured BLOK representatives discussing the campaign.
  • Trade Unions: Support from trade unions, such as SSSH, SOMK, and RIS, was crucial, not only for the immediate campaign but also for future efforts to improve working conditions in the cultural sector.
  • International Support: The campaign garnered support from 12 international organizations, particularly professional associations and trade unions in the cultural field, which provided a global perspective and bolstered the credibility of the demands.

3. Public Awareness and Media Coverage:

• The campaign achieved wide media visibility, with coverage from non-profit media outlets and in-depth analyses that helped raise awareness about the poor working conditions in the cultural sector. This coverage played a key role in the campaign’s success, reaching a broad audience and encouraging public support.
• Media outlets such as Kulturpunkt, VoxFeminae, and Bilten actively followed and covered the campaign, amplifying its message across different platforms.

4. Partial Success in Policy Change:

• The most notable outcome was the amendment to the 2022 cultural funding guidelines by the Ministry of Culture and Media, which recognized salaries as an eligible expense for up to 20% of the budget in six specific areas (such as innovative artistic practices and visual arts). While this was less than the requested 25%, it was still a significant step forward.
• However, cold running costs (overhead expenses) were not recognized, and the total budget for cultural programs has not yet been increased, which will be determined after the results of the 2022 call are published.

Despite these limitations, the partial success was seen as a major victory for cultural workers and organizations, providing hope and motivation for continued advocacy efforts.

5. Strengthened Advocacy and Future Plans:

• The success of the campaign has empowered the team to continue advocating for better working conditions in the cultural sector. The legal expertise and experience gained from this campaign will be crucial in future efforts to influence policy changes.
• The project has also expanded the team''s visibility in the cultural field, positioning them as advocates for improving labor conditions in culture. This recognition led to invitations to participate in events, such as the Teatro Verrdi panel on the privatization of culture, and collaboration with New Union for broader labor rights initiatives.

6. Key Contributors and Beneficiaries:

• Active Participants: Several cultural organizations, CSOs, unions, and individuals directly contributed to the success of the campaign, including:
  • Platform Za K.R.U.H. (active on social media).
  • Kurziv, K-zona, and Udruženje za medijsku demokraciju (through media coverage).
  • Savez udruga Klubtura and Mreža mladih Hrvatske (engagement in the Council for the Development of Civil Society).
  • Pozitivna sila and Teatro Verrdi (local engagement and organizing events).
  • Predrag Fred Matić''s Office (support through signatures).
• Broader Impact: The broader cultural community, including independent artists, non-profit organizations, and unions, has benefited from the project''s outcomes, especially in terms of gaining public and institutional recognition for the need to improve working conditions and secure better funding for the cultural sector.

Conclusion:

The project achieved a significant milestone in advocating for improved working conditions in the cultural sector, particularly through legal analysis, public mobilization, and policy change. While not all objectives were fully met, the partial success of securing salary recognition in funding guidelines was an important step forward, with far-reaching impacts for cultural workers, artists, CSOs, and unions involved in the campaign. The success of this initiative has also laid the foundation for continued advocacy and future legal and policy changes.