Eneritz Dueso, Idoia Hernández, Olatz Salvador, Miren Narbaiza, Lide Hernando, Izaro Andrés and Garazi Esnaola: these are the musicians who form the new board of directors of the Musika Association. The first four explained at yesterday’s press conference that they will try to act horizontally so that all Basque musicians, members of the association or not, have a voice.

The group, composed of seven women, started to weave networks in February after the meeting that brought together more than a hundred musicians in Gernika, and in the Musikartean association they have found the tool to channel their needs and demands.

As they explained, the main objective of the association is to bring musicians together and unite their positions and channel the needs and demands of the sector. They have therefore invited Basque musicians to contact the association. In Dueso’s words, the current crisis has revealed a precarious situation that “led us to reflect on our situation, on the problems we already had long ago as musicians and as music workers.”

They decided to go to Musikari's address, because they thought it was time to do something about it. On the other hand, being all women, they are aware of how gender affects them in the table and below: “One of the goals is to put tools to bridge the gap, including providing support and training.”

Aware of the great work ahead, Narbaiza has denounced the lack of regulations and conventions in the musicians sector, as well as the lack of clarity in the hiring of musicians: “The law is 1985, and in addition to old it is very ambiguous and many interpretations can be made about it.” Also, Hernández added that all this has left many musicians out of the aid in this crisis. An appeal was made for collection and rered, which seemed essential if improvements could be made. They have also called on all cultural actors to work together and find meeting points between organisers, technicians, etc.

On its weight in the economy, Salvador stated that culture has an added value that cannot be measured in those terms and that they have joined together to protect it: “Culture is fundamental to society.” In this sense, Dueso criticized the talk of culture in economic terms without having real data: “We are a very heterogeneous group, often forced to work in an allegal way, and in addition to the cultural contribution that all these people generate, knowing the economic would be almost impossible.”

You're already working

The Basque institutions called for the creation of a working table for the Artists’ Statute, considering it now more necessary than ever: “We are sent messages in different ways pledging that we will be given this and the other, but we would like to ask for a real commitment,” said Dueso. In this regard, they have denounced the lack of institutional knowledge regarding the sector, setting as an example the conditions established by the Basque Government in May for access to cultural subsidies. The musicians' association submitted an amendment to these conditions, which were not taken into account. They complained that "the intermittent nature of the sector is not taken into account". In any case, they have pointed out that they are willing to “talk to all the people they can”.

In addition, the same year has worked on the Reconstruction Plan for the Musical Sector within the Union of Porfesional Musicians Federation, promoted by 14 other associations of musicians from the Spanish State. It has three main lines of work: to support, promote and promote the work and economic activity of musicians; to provide musicians with adequate social support and to improve their economic situation; and to highlight and recognize the fundamental value of music and culture in the life of citizens. The intention is that the plan should be presented in the coming weeks.