Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko says that she is seeking a rescue package for the live events industry, which has been one of the sectors worst hit by the coronavirus crisis.
Saarikko, who is also chair of the Centre Party, said in a Facebook post that she met on Friday with Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä (Cen) and Mika Salminen, Director of Health Security at the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), as well as representatives of the events industry, the music sector and Finland’s top professional ice hockey league, the SM-liiga.
Saarikko said that she wants to bring the issue of support for the events industry to be considered by her colleagues in government before the Christmas break.
The Ministry of Education and Culture and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will make proposals to the government regarding financial subsidies for the events industry, Saarikko said, without mentioning how much money might be available.
EU stimulus package funds to help creative fields
"It’s still impossible to estimate the sums involved. We must first determine the breadth of the whole sector. I can say that the support so far earmarked for the sport and culture sectors will not be sufficient for this drawn-out predicament, especially since the restrictions have become even tighter toward the end of the year,” Saarikko told Yle.
Saarikko said it would be best if the government can quickly find targeted subsidies that do not require legislative changes, which would considerably delay the process.
Saarikko said that some funds from the EU coronavirus stimulus package will be directed to help the creative fields and the events industry to recover from the crisis.
She added that solutions are needed to ensure a future vision for the sector. The agencies responsible for restrictions, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the events industry must work together to come up with procedures and guidelines so that events can take place within the boundaries set by the pandemic situation.