The professional associations of the performing arts sector in the province of Alicante have raised their voices through a statement sent by ProTea (Professionals del Teatre d'Alacant) against the lack of institutional support, denouncing that the calls for subsidies from the Provincial Council do not guarantee the quality or professionalization of cultural activities. According to these cultural entities, the recent unification of municipal aid for the realization of cultural, musical and performing arts events has completely left aside the professional companies and businesses of the sector.
Since 2020, various associations have requested year after year that the authorities intervene to stop the deterioration of the sector. However, they claim that their requests have been systematically ignored by political leaders, including, they point out, Juan de Dios Navarro, deputy for Culture.
Main complaints of the sector
Professional bodies criticise the fact that there is no control mechanism to guarantee the quality and professionalism of the subsidised proposals, which allows amateur groups or companies with no real connection to the performing arts to occupy the space that, they consider, should be for the professional sector. In addition, they demand random inspections to check that cultural workers have adequate contracts and that labour agreements are complied with.
Another key point of their protest is the quality of the cultural programming that citizens receive. The associations claim that the taxes of the people of Alicante are financing events that do not meet minimum standards of professionalism, promoting the underground economy and making the sector even more precarious. According to them, this situation allows for suspicious payments that are not legal or declared, as well as employees working without being registered.
Call to the Provincial Council and possible mobilizations
The signatory groups insist on their willingness to collaborate with the Alicante Provincial Council in the creation of a new call for subsidies that guarantees true support for professional performing arts companies and businesses. In this sense, they stress that the amateur sector must have its own space in the municipalities, but not at the cost of job insecurity and the loss of labour rights for workers in the sector.
Given the lack of response from the institutions, the associations do not rule out calling for demonstrations to make their protest visible and demand a professional and quality culture.
Signatory Associations
The following entities have signed the complaint:
- AAPV (Actors and Actrius Professionals Valencians)
- PROTEA (Professionals of the Teatre d'Alacant)
- AVEET (Valencian Association of Writers and Theatrical Writers)
- AVETID (Associació d'Empreses d'Arts Sceniques del País Valencià)
- APCCV (Association of Circ Professionals of the Valencian Community)
- AVED (Valencian Association of Dance Companies)
- Scenic Committee (Association of creators and creators of Valencian scenic arts)
- ADVAEM (Valencian Association of Distributors and Professional Distributors of Performing Arts and Music)
- Cultural Management (Valencian Association of Cultural Professionals)
- APDCV (Association of Dance Professionals of the Valencian Community)
- CONARTE (Confederation of Artists and Entertainment Workers)
Well yes.
I think that professional companies are absolutely right. They are not on equal terms with amateur groups, which are fine. But they have their own space. Not all in the same basket.
It happens in other provincial councils too.