The Culture and Media Ministry will continue implementing measures designed to help the cultural and creative sector, Minister Nina Obuljen-Korzinek said on Thursday, recalling that 847 artists have exercised their right to a HRK 4,000 monthly subsidy.

Minister Obuljen-Korzinek told reporters that of the 870 artists who had applied for the subsidy, 847 had been granted a HRK 4,000 subsidy for January and February.

Two days ago, she said, calls were opened to complement the schemes of the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) for subsidies to freelance artists whose contributions are paid from the state budget.

She announced that given the COVID pandemic circumstances the ministry would continue implementing the measures.

Asked whether HRK 4,000 a month is enough for artists, she said that the amount was only part of everything available to them. Those monthly grants are paid directly to the artists’ accounts, the minister said.

We have also provided, she said, HRK 300 million in loan guarantees, which is slowly being realised.

She also recalled that at the end of year they had co-financed film production in order to offset higher costs in these circumstances.

Asked how much money has been provided for all those schemes so far, the minister said that last year the aid had totalled nearly half a billion kuna — HRK 300 million in guarantees and HRK 200 million in various forms of direct support form the COVID fund. She added there had been an additional HRK 50 million compared to last year’s funding.

The minister stressed they were also preparing a recovery and resilience programme where she expected grants for the cultural and creative industry.