Germans plan emergency aid for freelance musicians

There have been calls in Germany this morning for urgent aid for freelance musicians who have lost engagements over the coming weeks and cannot pay their bills.

We hear of singers and soloists who can’t get refunds on airb&b bookings and are facing other immediate expenses.

The German Cultural Council aims to set up an emergency fund for artists, possibly at the Artists’ Social Fund (KSK) in Wilhelmshaven.

The German Orchestra Association (DOV) is lobbying for urgent payments. ‘Salaried members of the concert and theatre orchestras as well as radio orchestras will be relatively well looked after in the coming weeks,’ says DOV Managing Director Gerald Mertens. ‘Freelancers are, however, facing a real existential need.’

It is not clear if payments will be made to non-German residents.