Subsidies for artists appear to be controversial
22:35
Many were shocked by the list of those benefiting from the Culture Support Fund and the amounts they received for "ensuring the continuity of artistic activity". A real storm has passed through the Internet. PLN 400 million went to almost 2,100 institutions and artists. Sixty of them received over a PLN 1 million. For many subsidies, you will have to pay a higher tax threshold, and there are those who will also pay a solidarity levy.
The list includes many pop culture stars seen as living in luxury. Now they will receive subsidies because they cannot appear due to the lockdown imposed by the state.
“Why do millions get ‘artists’ and omit waiters, cooks, hotel and shop employees, waffle and casserole sellers and hundreds of other professions?,” Przemysław Wipler, a former member of the Sejm of the 7th term and now an entrepreneur, wonders on Twitter.
“The measure of this absurdity is that artists will get such ‘grants’ that will fall into the second PIT threshold and a ‘solidarity levy’,” he adds.
The problem is that most artists did not apply for the money – for various reasons. "We did not ask, although the situation in Kult is far from being great. However, there are professional groups that need such a grant more. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, who spend several hours a day trying to save lives for a penny," Kult wrote on its fanpage.
Grants were given to those who submitted the appropriate application. But the amounts were not equal. Record holders of the grant are musical theaters: Gdynia Musical Theater of Danuta Baduszkowa and Roma from Warsaw received PLN 4 million each. The third place is taken by the Kwadrat Theater in Warsaw with PLN 3.6 million and the Podlasie Opera and Philharmonic in Białystok with PLN 2.8 million.
However, as much as PLN 2 million was given to the Katowice rapper Miłosz Borycki, specifically the private company Zgadzasie Miłosz Borycki. As much as 1.8 million PLN will go to Golec Fabryka Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością Spółka Komandytowa, where shares are held by three brothers: Paweł, Łukasz and Rafał. The first two are vocalists from Golec uOrkiestra.
Besides, PLN 751,000 went to Beata Art. Beata Pietras, the company of the leader of the Bajm Beata Kozidrak band, and over PLN 600,000 to BAJM Andrzej Pietras. Approx. PLN 660,000 will go to Egurrola Production, the company of the dancer Augustin Egurrola. Kamil Bednarek, who has recently appeared in advertisements for the Play mobile network, will receive PLN 5 million, and the leader of the Weekend disco polo team Radosław Liszewski PLN 520,000. Renata Świerzyńska Bayer Full Impresariat received PLN 400,000, and Bayer Full Sławomir Świerzyński – PLN 150,000. The company of Piotr Kupicha, the Feel leader, will gain PLN 232,000.
