Solidarity with cultural workers in Slovenia in during the COVID-19 pandemic

Much like in other parts of the world, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought all public life to a halt. Concerts were among the first events to be canceled, shows, plays and exhibitions closed down, other activities in the field of culture soon followed suit.

In Slovenia, with numerous cultural workers losing all job opportunities overnight, many are faced with grave financial difficulties. Work in the field of culture is precarious in the best of times, as workers are often self-employed and work on a project-to-project basis with often low-paying wages. Single parents and families in which both parents lost their regular income are facing especially difficult times.

The Solidarni s kulturo initiative (Solidarity with culture) is an independent effort by cultural workers for cultural workers providing short-term urgent financial aid, urging those who can help to donate and those who need support to apply for assistance. Funds are distributed with the help of Slovenian Red Cross, while the Igor Zabel Association for Culture and Theory is proud to support the ongoing efforts of the initiative. More information (in Slovenian) may be found at www.solidarniskulturo.org.

Everyone in Slovenia or abroad can help by sharing the news about the initiative with others who might help or need help themselves - you can find more on both Facebook and Instagram.

All donations are paid out in full to individuals in need for the explicit purpose stated in their application. So as to ensure transparency and direct assistance without undue taxation, it will take form through direct payments of basic necessities (costs of living, heating, kindergarten fees, health insurance, medicinal equipment and similar).

For more information on how to apply for assistance and to learn more about the initiative, visit the website, Facebook or Instagram accounts (all accessible in Slovenian).