We Will Not Share Our Extra Income

NO SHARE FROM OUR "EXTRAS"

Dear members of the press, artists and the public,

Under a decision taken by the General Directorate of Fine Arts of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, artists working within the Ministry are being asked to pay a certain share into the revolving fund from income they earn from engagements classified as "extra" work. We wish to share with you the concern and reaction this decision has created in the arts community and in society.

As is known, the decision in question, taken on 13 March 2023, demands that a portion of the income earned by the Ministry's artists from work outside the Ministry's activities be transferred to the revolving fund. This has caused great indignation in the arts community and given rise to a justified wave of reaction among artists.

As artists, we find this decision worrying from the standpoint of law, justice and artistic freedom. It is neither fair nor reasonable for artists who work for the development and sustainability of cultural and artistic life to face an additional levy on the supplementary income they earn. Moreover, artists already pay tax on this income, and this extra demand may leave them in economic hardship.

Furthermore, as we stated in our petition to the court, the fact that no similar practice applies to theatre and opera artists creates a great injustice and inequality. Everyone in the arts community must be subject to the same standards and treated fairly.

As the Culture Workers' Union, we will continue our struggle to protect artists' rights and defend the freedom of art. With the case we have filed at the Ankara Administrative Court, we demand that this unjust practice be halted and annulled. In this struggle for the freedom of art and the rights of artists, we look to all art lovers and the public for support.

For detailed information and contact, please use our union's official communication channels.

Respectfully,

Culture Workers' Union