Zagreb theatre actors and cultural associations have sent an open letter to PM Andrej Plenkovic, Finance Minister Zdravko Maric and Culture Minister Nina Obuljen Korzinek, warning about the difficult status of freelance artists on the independent scene due to the coronavirus crisis.

The letter was signed by 165 actors, employees of Zagreb theatres, and 14 cultural associations.

They remind the prime minister and the ministers that their colleagues with the status of freelance artists have been unfairly left out of the system of government aid to the business sector, including cultural businesses.

Freelance artists have received government support only for March, April and May, after which they have been left to fend for themselves in a situation in which there are no projects or they are sporadic, with very limited budgets, the signatories to the letter to the prime minister say.

They welcome specific calls for applications published by the Culture and Media Ministry but note that they do not cover all those in need.

The situation with the coronavirus epidemic is increasingly serious and chances of finding work in the cultural sector increasingly scarce, the actors and associations say, asking that the government adopt as soon as possible a decision to continue with financial support for freelance artists and other independent cultural workers in need of assistance.