Lorenzo Amor, president of ATA: “Culture is safe. What is lacking is direct aid. ”The sector has invoiced 90% less than in 2019.
FIAVE, the Federation of the Audiovisual Industry and Events is integrated into ATA, the National Federation of Self-Employed Workers. It has more than 1500 freelancers, most of them corporate, represents the entire industry and audiovisual production in Spain and is made up of different regional business associations of the sector such as: the Association of Event Production Companies of Andalusia (AEPEA), the Association of manufacturers and importers of the Sound, Lighting and Audiovisual Technology sectors (AFIAL), the National Association of the Technical Industry for the Event and Culture (ANITEC), the Association of Audiovisual Professional Catalonia (APAC), Association of Professionals of Audiovisual Rental for Events (APROAV), the Union of Event Production Companies of the Region of Murcia (UEPEMUR) and the Association of Audiovisual Services Companies of Valencia (AESAV), among others.
The entertainment industry brings together the companies and professionals responsible for the implementation of cultural activities, festivals, concerts and tours, congresses, fairs, orchestras, theaters, etc. and groups both material suppliers and manufacturers, equipment distributors, technicians, renters, logistics, engineering, lighting consultants, sound and lighting technicians, riggers and event promoters, among many others. It is a group that has been greatly affected by this pandemic since they have not been able to work for a year and have billed 90% less than in 2019. This industrial sector is closely linked to both the cultural sector and tourism and hospitality.
“Obviously it has been one of the sectors most affected by the economic crisis derived from the pandemic since any activity linked to it supposes a congregation of people and is the first thing that is limited by the health authorities,” said Lorenzo Amor, president of ATA . “We do not question the sanitary measures, we question the abandonment of the professionals in the sector and the lack of direct aid that does not take into account the great economic loss of these professionals on whom many others depend. Culture is safe if done well and with a little help the professionals who organize the events could succeed”, added Amor.
For Francisco Bustamante, president of FIAVE, “this agreement represents an important step in the defense of thousands of freelancers belonging to these sectors who have been without activity for almost a year. The integration in ATA, aims to join efforts and means to influence the policies or dynamics that regulate the sector both at the national and European level, as well as to give it greater visibility”.
