We are not invisible

Art, democracy, demonstration, greece, news

Under the slogan “we are not invisible”, thousands of artists demonstrated in Athens, Thessaloniki and other cities in Greece. Musicians, actors and singers are calling for support measures for cultural workers.

“The industry is universally in lockstep, informal or formal,” said Dimitris Zervoudakis, president of the Association of Musicians of Northern Greece.

Panhellenic Federation of Theatre (P.O.TH.A)

Our industry is one of the hardest hit by the pandemic. According to ELSTAT, in 2020 alone, it lost 88% of its turnover. We are the industry that was the first to close and the last to open, targeted more than anyone else for overexposure to the quid. We were the easy target, as soon as the cases increased all the government announced was a ban on music, to the extent that it has become a joke in the public consciousness. The support we had was very little and came with a lot of struggle.

Panhellenic Association of Organisers of Cultural Events

Since October the free music market is unemployed. Because even though the CDs were typically open, both of concert organisers and artists, there were very few musical activities taking place, due to the turnout of people, which was extremely low due to the fear of congregation.

Association of Musicians of Northern Greece

First of all, we must understand that the pandemic has lasted more than 24 months. We were deprived of the right to work. And while we were working, it was in a damaged environment, with threats of constant postponements, with the cultivation of fear. I, for example, started in the winter and worked a little in Athens and Thessaloniki. The most of shows were cancelled. People are afraid.