The official newsletter of the Basque Country this Monday has announced that the grants will be awarded by the draw of tickets: “A number shall be assigned to each application and, after the deadline for submission, a number shall be selected to the notary, the applications shall be examined in this order and all those fulfilling the requirements of the call shall be awarded until the funds for their financing have been exhausted.”

A monthly grant of EUR 950 shall be granted to persons who started a professional activity of a cultural or artistic nature between 1 January and 13 March 2020. Those who have had any activity in this area in 2019 or earlier, will be able to collect 70% of the earned in 2019, with a maximum of 1,200 euros.

Given that the Basque Government has announced a budget of EUR 2.5 million to help the cultural professionals who have become unemployed because of COVID-19, and given the amount of each aid, there is no doubt that the Basque Government will be able to meet the needs of all the applicants.

Explanations by the Basque Government

Although the word "draw" appears in the call, the Vice Minister of Culture of the Basque Government, Joxean Muñoz, has nuanced this aspect of the procedure: "It is clear that grants will not be awarded through a draw. The question is where to start analysing applications and, if it has been presented correctly, where to start paying. From the first one that has arrived? Starting with the demand that has come before seems logical, but we saw great difficulties for this system. We want to give people time to prepare their requests. In addition, we have set up an advisory service for this purpose. And there will be a period of 10 days to prepare the requests in an orderly manner. We did not want to give priority to what is most skillful in management, who knows best telematic procedures or who better manages their numbers. We wanted to give everyone the same chance. Therefore, 10 days to submit the application."

Next, the draw will be carried out, as Muñoz explained, "to know where to start analyzing the dossiers". That is, what will be determined by drawing lots, according to the Department of Culture, will be the order of the applicants: "That's what's going to decide what's the first request that's going to be served. Then, in order, they will serve everyone else. We do not know whether the money from the call will be exhausted, perhaps not; however, in the open calls it is always stated that the money is until exhausted. Deciding by lot the order of the requests, also in the calls," Muñoz explained.

Support announced on the digital strike portal

The Department of Culture of the Basque Government reported on a special grant on the day when Basque culture workers were to announce a two-day digital strike, although, according to some professionals in the sector, this item is nothing new, but to change the name of a stock exchange foreseen in the budgets approved by the PNV-PSE Government for 2019 with the support of Podemos.

As from 12 May, such aid may be applied for by the body builders and those to whom the aid relates shall receive the amount provided for in a single payment, with withholding tax corresponding to the activity. Other details of the aid can be found in the official CAV newsletter.