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Thursday 24 sepTember 2020 LOCAL
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A cry for help: Aruba’s creative industries in need

Continued from Page 9 approx. 120.000 people, to bigger the Commission is setting up two to name a few. More detailed in-
and more developed countries platforms to help share challenges formation of what the EU is doing
How are other countries helping with millions of inhabitants, but the and solutions at the EU level in re- to remediate the impact of CO-
the Creative Industries? reason this report is relevant is be- lation to the COVID-19 impact on VID-19 can be found on the fol-
In the words of the European Com- cause it illustrates the endless sup- the cultural and creative sectors. lowing website: https://ec.europa.
mission (2020) “empty cultural port (or lack thereof) other coun- “The first platform for EU Member eu/culture/resources/coronavirus-
places, drastically reduced mo- tries have expressed to the Cre- States was launched on 24 April response
bility and tourism blockade as an ative Industry. and it allows the representatives of
effect of COVID-19 measures not EU culture ministries to exchange Moving Forward
only generate an evident eco- The Netherlands good practices. The second plat- The Aruban community and the
nomic damage to cultural institu- Recently, on September 15th 2020 form, Creatives Unite aims to help creative and cultural community
tions, companies and workers but the Dutch Government released a people in the cultural and creative are experiencing great pain and
also create a strong economic notice on their website that “in ad- sectors share information and solu- loss. The Aruban Government is
and social discomfort at city level”. dition to the support package of € tions more easily. It was launched fighting many battles in regards to
Therefore, the need for reform and 482 million, the budget for culture on 5 May within the framework of public health, the increasing co-
policy responses are highly nec- will have available an additional the Creative FLIP Pilot project co- vid-19 spread, economic develop-
essary for the Creative Industries. € 15 million per year the next four funded by the European Union” ment, tourism industry, education
There are different ways countries years (a total of € 60 million over (European Union, 2020). crisis during COVID times, financial
around the world are helping the 2021-2024). These funds are intend- crisis, negotiations with The Nether-
Creative Industries. This is done ed to further strengthen the cultural Both national and city govern- lands and so much more. The load
through Public Funding (grants for infrastructure in Dutch regions. The ments in Europe have issued a is heavy; however, the Aruban Cul-
cultural sector, grants for creative cabinet is committed to a solid cul- comprehensive collection of poli- tural and Creative Industry needs
entrepreneurs, compensations, tax tural and creative sector. This sec- cy measures (from compensatory attention as well. Not only for now
incentives), Employment Support tor makes a significant contribution grants to tax reliefs) to maintain but for the future. All cultural and
(income support and unemploy- to a favorable economic business alive Europe’s cultural capital, creative organizations (public, pri-
ment benefits which in most cases climate in the Netherlands” (Ri- while giving cultural institutions, vate and non-profit) should unite
are also public funding), Admin- jksoverheid, 2020). This news drew companies and workers the time to and create a platform like the EU
istrative Support (advanced aid, a lot of attention on Facebook. get prepared to post-COVID times. did to discuss how we can col-
postponement of dues, relief of Aruban creative professionals such A good example of such works laborate and bring concrete solu-
dues, and procedural flexibility), as Ms. Pierangely Wever (Dancer/ includes the “European Cultural tions on the table and initiate real
and Structural Policies (training, Dace teacher) expressed by stat- and Creative Cities in COVID-19 change. Especially, exploring how
employment, knowledge mobiliza- ing: “Ok and Aruba? Is there mon- times: Jobs at risk and the policy Aruba can deliver COVID-safe cul-
tion, digitalization, innovation, and ey for ART and CULTURE? Dance response” (2020) report. Many of tural experiences as time goes by.
copyright licensing). schools are suffering; many stu- the policy measures Europe used
dents don’t come to class. What to help creative entrepreneurs and The government has a responsibil-
On September 7th 2020, the Or- is going to happen? I can imagine creative businesses include: Aid ity, but it cannot carry it alone. This
ganization for Economic Co-oper- that Music, Visual Arts, and other package for solo self-employed is why public policy is important
ation and Development (OECD) disciplines in the ARTS are also suf- persons and micro-enterprises, aid and why culture and the creative
published a report called “Culture fering! What is going to happen?” for organizers of cultural events, li- industries also needs their own pol-
shock: COVID-19 and the cultural You can hear her cry for help, her quidity assistance, short-time allow- icy plan. I cannot emphasize this
and creative sectors” which in de- cry for an answer, and her cry for ance, simplified access to basic in- enough. Aruba has endured many
tail explained the impact of CO- a plan. come, aid for parents and families, obstacles in the past, so I am con-
VID-19 on the cultural and creative tax aid measures, insolvency law, fident that our creative profession-
sector around the world while also Europe protection of tenants, artists' social als are capable to help come up
illustrating what these countries In the case of Europe, Commission- security fund, consumer loans, re- with ideas and turn this miserable
have done (policy-wise) to help er Mariya Gabriel announced in allocation of funds and flexibiliza- situation around. However, it will
this industry. We realistically can’t April 2020 at the conference of EU tion of programs, film funding, and only happen if we do it together.
compare Aruba, a small island of ministers of culture and media, that capacity building measures, just q

Biography - Thaïs G. Franken (25) is a recently graduated Aruban student at the University of Maastricht
(UM). She obtained her graduate double master of science degree in Public Policy and Human Develop-
ment in collaboration with the United Nations University Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute
on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT). Back home, on the beautiful island of Aruba, she completed
her Bachelor of Arts in Organization, Governance & Management (OGM) at the University of Aruba (UA),
where she successfully defended her thesis titled “Placing Culture and Creativity at the Heart of the Aru-
ban Sustainable Development”. It was precisely this research project that inspired the emergence of the
“Creative Islander” column in 2018. Thaïs is very passionate about topics such as sustainability, innovation,
culture, creativity, social entrepreneurship and their role in public management. Next to her academic in-
terests, she enjoys reading, writing, dancing and cooking.