Soaring costs and political tensions over Belgium's 'art work certificate' reform
Since the reform of the artist's statute into the more comprehensive kunstwerkattest, both the number of beneficiaries and the total amount paid out have increased sharply. Employment minister David Clarinval (MR) told the Chamber on Tuesday that €136 million had been spent in 2024 - although only €11 million had been budgeted.
For more than two decades, artists in Belgium have been entitled to unemployment benefits between performances thanks to a special artist statute. The previous federal government transformed this into the broader art work certificate, extending eligibility not only to performers but also to technicians, stagehands and other support staff in the cultural sector.
Artist Commission
Applications are now assessed by the Artist Commission, half of whose members are appointed by the recognised arts organisations. The commission began its work at the beginning of last year. Since then, minister Clarinval reports an exponential increase in both the number of certificate holders and the amounts paid out.
In 2024, 8,560 people received benefits amounting to €136 million, far more than the €11 million allocated. Clarinval also pointed out that half of the beneficiaries had been unemployed for more than five years and worked on average only 65 days a year.
Eligibility limits
The minister is currently working on a proposal to limit eligibility for general unemployment benefits to two years and to apply this measure to all unemployed people under the age of 55 - including those in the cultural sector. This would significantly undermine the current provisions of the artists' certificate, which is reviewed every five years. However, the current coalition agreement states that the artists' allowance will be maintained.
Clarinval declined to comment on the ongoing government discussions, but stressed that maintaining the current system "could lead to unequal treatment between different categories of workers, which cannot be reasonably justified".
I hope the intention is not to silence those who have a different vision of society
In response, opposition MP Sarah Schlitz (Ecolo), who had originally requested the information, argued that the figures presented by the minister actually showed that the art work certificate "has finally made it possible to offer artists a dignified livelihood". She described Clarinval's reform proposals as "alarming". "I hope the intention is not to silence those who have a different vision of society from your own," she added.
© BELPRESS