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The Corona Crisis: Austrian Artists' Agencies

Every year, more than 40 Austrian artists' agencies bring thousands of national and international artists to the stages of classical music throughout the country.

We agents are the essential interface between artists and the event industry and through our work we contribute to maintaining the system in a way which goes far beyond a simple brokering activity.

The legal ban on events which has been in force since 10 March 2020 has led to the complete loss of our income. A gradual return to normal business operations is not foreseeable in the near future. There is no realistic or swift strategy and timetable for the resumption of performance and concert operations, and thus no perspective on how and when we can resume our business activities.

We call for the recognition by politicians and public institutions of the cultural sector as being systemically relevant.

We urge the appointment of a panel of experts to review and revise the economic and organisational framework conditions for opera and concert operations. As mediation experts we want to be actively involved in this process.

We call for the implementation of a catalogue of measures to secure the existence of the Austrian artists' agencies. Our draft proposal has already been submitted to the Ministry.

We require detailed measures to support artists who, due to the closure of opera houses and concert halls due to "force majeure", are not receiving their contractually agreed fees.

The classical music market is a complex ecosystem. Only by integrating all the relevant organisms can this unique biosphere survive the corona crisis.


Arbeitsgemeinschaft Österreichische Agenturen der klassischen Musik / Working Group of Austrian Agents for Classical Music
Mark Stephan Buhl | Laurent Delage | Eleanor Hope | Helga Machreich-Unterzaucher
Nora Pötter-Grabko | Esther Schollum | Till Dönch
Beatrixgasse 26/5/42 | A-1030 Wien

Media contact
ARGE Österreichische Agenturen der klassischen Musik
Mag. Anna Rendl
anna.rendl@artphonia.net
+ 43 699 181 161 85