The Basque Government launched a line of aid to deal with the situation caused by COVID-19: from 12 to 25 May, but the Department of Culture and Linguistic Policy of the Basque Government and Lanbide have decided that the deadline will be extended: until 1 June, professionals in the sector will be able to apply for this aid.

Coinciding with this announcement, the Basque Government clarifies that this is a consignment intended for workers discharged from the General Scheme or the Special Scheme for Self-employed Workers in order to qualify for the aid. The government aims to reach all aid applicants, but if there is no budget to meet the needs of all applicants, the notarial draw would define who receives the aid and who does not – the government has prioritised this possibility over the preference of the one requesting it in the first place.

According to the Basque Observatory of Culture, the CAV employs a total of 6,834 people in the cultural and creative industries. When the grants were presented in mid-April, the Minister for Culture and Linguistic Policy, Bingen Zupiria, explained that half of them would ask for subsidy on the basis of their forecasts, as the other half would be linked to a company and could apply for other aid.

EUR 2 million for micro-enterprises in culture

In addition to this EUR 2.5 million item agreed in the CAV budgets for 2020, the Basque Government has announced that it will provide an additional EUR 2 million for micro-enterprises in the sector affected by the COVID-19 crisis. This item is intended to contribute to the structural expenditure of these undertakings.

In addition, through Elkargi, the Basque Government has offered the possibility of going to the liquidity fund for self-employed people and businesses. According to the Governments of Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa, 405 applications for funding in the field of culture and sport have already been received, so far 177 have been approved.