Republic of Mauritius- Post Covid-19 Action Plan to preserve cultural life and support artists

The Plan, approved by the
Cabinet last week, aims to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the
cultural industry.  The authorities have
also agreed to the drafting of the Status of the Artists legislation and
reviewing the Copyright fees as charged by Mauritius Society of Authors (MASA)

The drafting of the Status of the Artists legislation
is expected to be instrumental in establishing the professional status of
artists and improve their economic, social and working conditions. A
consultation with all relevant stakeholders will run alongside the drafting
exercise. As regards the review of the Copyright fees, these new charges were
worked out by MASA and will be applicable as from 1^st July 2021.

Measures of
Post Covid-19 Action Plan

The temporary measures will be valid over a six-month
period.  These measures are:

The holding of concerts behind closed doors
at the Serge Constantin Theatre, on a weekly basis. These concerts will be
broadcast on the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) channels and on
digital platforms. Artists will be paid for their show, for a maximum duration of
30 minutes per group and per performance. This financial support has a ceiling
of Rs 60 000.

• Online
  theatre and other performances

The holding of plays behind closed doors on
a monthly basis. These concerts will be broadcast on the MBC channels and on
digital platforms.  The artists will be
paid a sum of up to Rs 200 000 (including costs of costumes, rehearsals and
other accessories). Other artists working in hotels will also be able to
perform at the Serge Constantin Theatre on a weekly basis and will be paid up
to Rs 40 000. Their performance will be broadcast on the MBC channels and on
digital platforms.

• Review
  of other support to artists (for the production of CDs and DVDs)

For the production of albums, an amount of Rs
40 000 will be allocated and an additional Rs 20 000 will be provided for the
use of visual support. An amount of Rs 10 000 will be allocated for the production
a single and an additional Rs 10 000 will be made available for the use of
visual support.

A television programme, Lil Moris nou kiltir, nou talan, will be designed to
promote Mauritian art and culture, as well as its history on a monthly
basis.  Artists will be paid for their
collaboration. Moreover, Literary
exchange, a television programme, will be launched to promote literature and
works of local authors.

• Online
  artistic training and storytelling for children

The Ministry will collaborate with
professional dance schools and other choreographers to develop virtual lessons.
A mobile app will be developed for this project. Dancers and choreographers will
be paid for their services. Through the same mobile app, a storytelling for
children project will be launched.

• Acquisition
  of works by local authors

An amount of Rs 25 000 (per author) will be
offered to purchase the works of local authors published during a defined
period.

• Publication
  of a coronavirus anthology in e-book format

A call for texts will be launched to
publish a compilation of short stories or poems on the experience of the
lockdown in relation to Covid-19.  Each
author will be paid varying between Rs 5 000 to Rs 10 000 according to
established criteria.

Forty sites will be identified and a list
finalised over the coming days to allow artists create the wall frescoes. The
theme of these frescoes will be on the consolidation of national unity.

• Exhibitions and virtual exhibitions of painting and
  photography

Painters and photographers will benefit
from a financial support from the National Arts Fund to hold fairs and virtual
exhibitions of painting and photography

• Acquisition
  of works of art

The works of local artists will be
purchased by the Ministry according to criteria established.

• Heritage
  sites virtual tour

A platform will be set up to allow virtual
tours, at an initial stage, of the following sites: Aapravasi Ghat World
Heritage Site; Le Morne World Heritage Site; and Trou Chenilles Open Air
Museum.

A team has been set up at the level of the Ministry to
implement the Action Plan and a Help Desk created for artists.  The Desk can be reached on the following
numbers: 213 4233/214 2173, from 9.00 hours to 16.00 hours.  Artists can also forward their queries via
email on: machdesk@govmu.org

#

ResOuLakaz    
#BeSafeMoris

Government Information Service, Prime
Minister’s Office, Level 6, New Government Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius.
Email: gis@govmu.org  Website: http://gis.govmu.org  Mobile App: Search Gov​