Slovakia

The Covid-19 pandemic affected economies worldwide, and the cultural and creative sectors (CCS) were hit especially hard. Like most countries, Slovakia responded with a set of financial and non-financial relief measures. The total amounts paid out are referenced where data is available. 

1. Financial Measures

1.1 General

“First Aid“

The largest horizontal job retention programme was revised twice (First Aid +/First Aid ++), raising the payment limits, and relaxing some of the original conditions, e.g. changing to include feelancers with hybrid income. From March 2020 to December 2021, EUR 66 mil. were paid out to the creative sectors, out of the total EUR 2.5 bil. The last version, First Aid ++, offered the following monthly support:

• Self-employed or businesses with their establishment temporarily closed due to anti-Covid restrictions: 80 % gross monthly wages up to EUR 1,100 per employee;
• Self-employed with at least 20 % income loss: up to EUR 880,
• Employers (including the self-employed who employ other workers) who retained jobs despite their business being interrupted or limited due to anti-Covid restrictions: 80% gross monthly wages up to EUR 810;
• individual enterpreneurs (self-employed or single-person limited companies) with no income from business as a result of anti-Covid restrictions: EUR 315

Rent support

If a rented business establishment was closed, or its use limited due to pandemic restrictions, the lessee could apply for rent support, provided that the lessor agreed to discount the rent. Support was offered to the amount of the discount agreed between the lesser and the lessee, up to 50% of the rent price.

Support for businesses in tourism

Tourism-related enterprises with selected NACE codes with at least 40% income loss could receive up to 10% their net turnover. Eligible NACE codes included museums and operators of cultural sites.

Other measures

• deferral of social security contributions for self-employed workers
• secured guarantees for bank loans in order to cover short-term liquidity
• pandemic sickness pay/nursing pay for employees.

1.2 Sector-Specific

Support for enterpreneurs in the CCS

EUR 7.6 mil.

Support for uncovered fixed costs of micro- and SMEs in the CCS that made a loss in 2020 due to having their business interrupted/limited by the pandemic.

Support for CSOs/NPOs in the CCS

EUR 5.9 mil.

Organizations in the non-profit sector conducting cultural activities could apply for one-time support in the amount of 80% income loss between 2019 and 2020 plus 20% expenses in 2020, up to EUR 50.000.

Support for the self-employed in the CCS

EUR 4.2 mil.

Self-employed professional artists and other professionals in the CCS, such as technicians, craftspeople, event organizers etc. could apply for a one-time payment up to EUR 6,000.

Support for single-partner limited companies in the CCS

EUR 15.7 mil.

In order to cover short-term liquidity to continue their business, limited companies with a single partner operating in the CCS, with income loss of at least 30%, were eligible for one-time support of up to 90% income loss between 2019 and 2020, up to EUR 125.000.

Employment support for music schools

EUR 16.6 mil.

Primary music schools funded mainly from public sources were eligible for employment support – 80 % gross monthly wages up to EUR 1,100 per employee, for the time the school was closed down.

Grants for individual artists/other professionals in the CCS

EUR 9.7 mil.

Creative workers, researchers, cultural managers etc. could apply for project-based grant support from the Slovak Arts Council. The allocation of EUR 10 mil. was added on top of the Arts Council’s regular budget, and the administration process was simplified to include a wider group of applicants.

Support for cinemas and film distributors

EUR 2.2 mil.

Slovak Audiovisual Fund opened three special calls for film distributors and cinemas.

Grants for individual artists from minority cultures

EUR 0.4 mil.

Individual artists from minorities (Hungarian, Roma, Rusyn etc.) could apply for project-based grant support from the Minority Culture Fund. The allocation was added on top of the Fund’s regular budget.

Support for state-owned cultural institutions and the public broadcaster

EUR 9.8 mil. + EUR 2.3 mil.

State-owned cultural institutions (theatres, orchestras, museums, etc.), and the Radio and Television of Slovakia received support as compensation for lost income.

2. Non-Financial Measures

• Organisers were able to issue a voucher instead of a refund of the ticket for events that could not be realised due to COVID-19, valid until the end of 2023
• Leniency concerning the realization of projects funded by grants awarded before the onset of Covid-19
• Mandatory 2% contributions paid by authors to the Arts Funds were made voluntary until the end of 2022.