Pavel signed the legislation establishing the status of an artist with monetary state support

Prague - People working in culture will be able to apply for artist status, which will be accompanied by financial state support. The conditions for this status will be enshrined in a government amendment signed today by President Petr Pavel. The Castle informed about this on its website. The status is expected to help artists particularly those working outside of employment relationships. The bill will take effect in July.

Supporting artists will cost the state approximately 126 million crowns annually, according to the explanatory report, and is expected to concern up to 1,400 people. It will provide contributions for creative or educational purposes. According to the rationale, the state would also bear the costs of a special grant program announced, for example, during a state of emergency. The legal enshrinement of artist status has been discussed since the coronavirus crisis. Government measures to limit the spread of the virus had a significant impact on artistic productions at that time.

"The fundamental principle of the proposal is the fact that the state should somehow express interest in artists who do not achieve sufficient financial income from their activities," the explanatory report states. The draft anticipates the creation of a registry to be maintained by the Ministry of Culture. A person who has been engaged in artistic activities for at least two of the last three years could apply for registration.

To receive a contribution, the applicant must not be a student and at the time of application must not be in an employment relationship that exceeds half of the weekly working hours. At the same time, their income from artistic activities over the last two years must constitute at least half of their total income and must not exceed the average wage. According to the draft, the application will be accompanied by an administrative fee of one thousand crowns. The amendment establishes a penalty of up to 20,000 crowns if the artist provides false or distorted information in the application and addresses the cancellation of the artist's status.

The status is intended, according to the creators of the amendment, to primarily assist people who engage in artistic activities, so-called freelancers. According to the justification, they face a number of disadvantages and obstacles in their professional practice.