Artists and cultural professionals in Lanzarote are voicing their concerns about the current contracting procedures used by the Arrecife City Council. They argue that financial burdens tied to these processes are unfairly placed on them.
In a statement, they highlighted the need for the administration to uphold legal standards, but they believe that the financial pressures associated with contract procedures are not suitable for independent artists, freelancers, and small cultural enterprises. Many artists face significant costs upfront for transport, equipment, and materials before they get paid, creating a precarious financial situation.
The artists demand a series of measures from the council, including:
1. Establishing a permanent working group that includes artists and municipal representatives to address and resolve existing issues.
2. Examining the feasibility of advance payments for cultural activities, particularly when upfront costs are needed.
3. Streamlining payment processes to ensure that invoices are settled promptly after events.
4. Providing clear information on contractual procedures before services are performed.
5. Designating a municipal contact to assist with queries related to contracts and payments.
6. Reducing unnecessary bureaucracy that hinders smaller cultural professionals from working with the city.
7. Planning cultural programming well in advance to improve contract scheduling.
8. Increasing transparency regarding payment timelines specifically for cultural contracts.
9. Ensuring that cultural activities are only contracted if they can be paid for reasonably.
The group stresses they are not against the council but are advocating for a system that recognises the realities faced by those in the cultural sector. They call for an urgent meeting with the city officials to discuss these proposals, aiming for collaborative solutions that will support the local artistic community and enhance Arrecife’s cultural vibrancy. They assert that a robust cultural sector is essential for economic activity and community identity, and artists must be given due consideration when workloads are planned.
