After the recent statement by Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, on the ongoing development of a specific plan intended to give artists a special status, Médias24 contacted his Culture colleague Mehdi Bensaid to ask him about the measures envisaged, or at least on the avenues studied.
Very responsive, the Minister of Culture confirmed to us that his department was working on a format that takes into account all the social issues with which artists are confronted, and on the means to provide definitive solutions.
Complementary medical insurance under study, reserved for the artist community
For this, several avenues are explored such as the eventual creation, for artists with a professional card, ofa community mutual insurance company which would supplement 100% of the medical care, as part of the royal project on the generalization of social protection to the entire population of Morocco.
On the sources of funding for this complementary medical insurance, Bensaïd prefers to delay by inviting us to wait until the studies and the benchmark are completed.
“At this stage, it is difficult to say because we must first study our budgetary possibilities, before looking for partners who can accompany us, and to find financing solutions relating to the social problem of artists; whether with the help of the Ministry of Health, foundations or the private sector, the main idea being to defend the dignity of artists.
“Apart from our own funding, it will certainly include other ministerial departments (Health…), as well as the participation of other public partners (regions…) or private (foundations…)”, considers the minister with optimism.
“Despite certain unfounded criticisms, the artist’s card is necessary to work”
On the violent criticisms of certain holders of the artist’s card, issued precisely by the Ministry of Culture, which would in reality, according to its detractors, have no real use, the minister replied that it at least had the merit to precisely identify all the artists of the kingdom.
“Being recognized by the administration is very important, because this card opens the door to being able to shoot in a play, a film or a television series. This document is also required so that singing artists can claim their copyright, ”explains the Minister.
On the payment of compensation to the many artists who have suffered a lot since March 2020, and some of whom have even ended up with their families in the street, Bensaïd recalls that his predecessor was precisely able to pay them monthly financial support thanks to to this map which lists them.
“More than 30 million dirhams allocated to finance all the provisions of the future statute which will be ready in December”
“In order to move forward, we are going to put in place a new format to better protect our artists, a large part of whom are confronted with social issues such as health for the whole family, education for children, the right to housing and many other financial difficulties… ”
Thus, on the budget that will be allocated to finance his ambitious project and on the necessary design time, the Minister makes a provisional estimate of at least 30 million dirhams and of around three weeks to complete the final details of his project. project which will have to be adopted quickly.
Regarding the mode of adoption of the project, Bensaïd hopes that a ministerial decree will suffice, otherwise it will be presented to the appreciation of parliamentarians who will vote for or against.
“Solve social issues, so as not to be caught off guard by a new wave of contamination”
According to him, the real challenge will be that of industrialization of culture, whose social problem is only a first step to overcome.
“In view of what is happening in Europe, the health risk is still very present. This is why we are trying to do double duty, especially on the social issue of artists, so that they are not caught off guard as has been the case in the past.
“If we make sure to work as if there was no Covid, that does not prevent us from preparing the structures that will be operational in the event of a new wave. “
“The creation of a professional order of artists is under study”
Moreover, knowing that some artists are sheltered from want, it is necessary to create a dynamic of solidarity in the image of what is happening in other professional orders (doctors, architects, accountants…).
Asked whether the creation of a professional order of artists was envisaged by the ministry, Bensaïd declared that he was working on all possible legal formats, and that the final choice will make it possible to meet the needs of the profession from next January. .
“The final vision will be ready during the month of December”
“In fact, the current debate includes all the artists duly included and around thirty professional organizations linked to the ministry (unions, federations, plastic arts associations, actors, etc.), who will have to approve the final vision that will be presented. in two or three weeks.
“Knowing that by the end of December, discussions with our partners will have been completed to implement their status, they will have to take ownership of this project to improve it as and when.
“Indeed, the ministry intends to set up this structure, the name of which has yet to be found, before letting the artists manage it.
“It will be comparable to a professional order that self-governs with an internal status recognized and validated by the supervisory authorities, namely the Ministry of Culture.”
“Prepare the ground for a gradual industrialization of the culture sector”
“The idea is that within two or three years, we can finally talk about the start of industrialization of the culture sector. Thus for the internal market, production will be monitored and controlled at the qualitative level by the members of the office of this structure, without any intervention or financial support from the State. After that, there could be an opening on the international market, in particular the Arab one which has extraordinary potential.
“To sum up, our role will therefore be to structure this market and create opportunities for this sector to become completely independent in the long term, then, finally, lucrative.
In fact, today culture in Morocco is still dependent on the state budget, ”concludes Bensaïd, who hopes to be able to initiate a dynamic among the actors concerned, in order to create a real market in the long term.
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