Representatives and employees of Finland’s events industry held a demonstration in Helsinki on Tuesday afternoon, demanding more state support for the hard-hit sector. Hundreds gathered on the steps of Parliament House and the nearby Kansalaistori (Citizens' Square) in chilly, rainy conditions.
The newly-established Event Industries Finland (Tapahtumateollisuus) submitted a proposal to Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä (Centre) on measures to rescue jobs in the industry, which includes cultural and sports events as well as fairs and congresses.
The industry lobby, which was set up in June, estimates that the value of the sector may drop by as much as 1.5 billion euros due to coronavirus-related restrictions.
The industry, which includes about 3,200 companies, has an estimated total value of 2.35 billion euros. According to the association, the business employs some 20,000 full-time and 175,000 part-time workers.
Event Industries Finland says that due to the industry’s unusual, complex cost and revenues structure, existing subsidies have not benefitted its member companies or workers. It says that targeted support is essential to keep businesses afloat and preserve jobs.
265 festivals cancelled so far
Tomi Saarinen, CEO of the country’s largest events organiser, Live Nation Finland, pointed out that public events involve behind-the-scenes work by a wide range of specialist professionals.
"There's a huge range of large and small firms behind the events infrastructure. If those with specialist know-how disappear from the infrastructure, we won’t be able to find them anywhere. It’s important to maintain them so that the events sector can be re-started as soon as possible,” he said on the Parliament steps.
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The industry group calculates that 265 festivals have been cancelled so far in Finland this year.
This has massive knock-on effects on local economies, says Panu Hattunen, promotor of Ilosaarirock in Joensuu, eastern Finland.
He says that the festival brings some 20 million euros into the city’s economy each year, and also has indirect benefits in making the city a more attractive place to study and work.
International Red Alert Days
Artists, firms and others in the industry have been posting red squares or red images on social media in support of the demonstration, as part of international ‘Red Alert Day’ observations. For instance, Finlandia Hall’s Instagram account shows the iconic venue lit up in red to show support for the industry.
The UK live events industry held a ‘Red Alert Day’ on 11 August “to raise awareness of its dire situation in the wake of Covid-19 and lobby for sustained government support,” noting that some 12 million people in the sector are unemployed due to the pandemic.
More than 1,500 venues across North America took part in a similar illumination event on 1 September, to followed by another on 22 September.
17.15: Updated with details throughout.