Cultural Policy in the Conditions of COVID-19 Threats: Russian and Foreign Experience

In: Observatorija kul'tury: Observatory of culture, Band 19, Heft 4, S. 360-371

Abstract

The goal of this article is to analyze emergency economic measures to support culture during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis (2020—2021). The article presents a classification of economic measures to support the industry during that period, analyzes the actions taken in Russia and four European countries (France, Great Britain, Italy and Germany). There are described the effectiveness and practical implementation of a wide range of financial mechanisms that stimulate the restoration and preservation of the industry's sustainability, including non-refundable subsidies, credits and loans, insurance coverage for canceled and postponed cultural events, compensations for lost income due to reduced ticket sales, job retention programs. The article presents the results of a comparative analysis of the anti-crisis expenditures incurred by the five countries' central governments (at the republican or federal level) to support culture in the crisis. The author pays special attention to state measures to support cultural workers, including those self-employed. In conclusion, the article presents recommendations on further directions of economic policy in the field of culture, taking into account the analysis of relevant foreign literature and the latest reports of European governments with a high level of state support for the industry.