GABRIELLE PARÉ

PROTECT NON-EU/EEA ARTISTS AND CULTURAL WORKERS BASED IN NORWAY (BESKYTT KUNSTNERE OG KULTURARBEIDERE I NORGE MED STATSBORGERSKAP UTENFOR EU/EØS)

We, artists, art students, and cultural workers from non-EU/EEA countries, currently living and working in Norway, ask for your support as we demand that the Norwegian government ensures our safety and survival through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We are specialized workers with temporary residence permits, from jobseeker visas to research and self-employment visas. 

While COVID-19 has hurt the lives and livelihoods of many workers in Norway, our situation as temporary residency permit holders is severe, as we have limited protections from the economic fallout of this crisis. We are running out of time. 

As non-EU/EEA cultural workers based and working in Norway, we demand: 

• That all corona-specific financial assistance should be extended to non-EU/EEA citizens living and working in Norway. Economic social assistance, including dagpenger and other social benefit schemes, must be accessible without penalty to non-EU/EEA citizens’ residency status.

• That we be granted an exception to take work outside of the cultural sector while restrictions to the sector apply, without penalty to non-EU/EEA citizens’ residency status.

• That UDI allows mixed economies (taking salaried employment and operating sole-proprietorships) without penalty to non-EU/EEA citizens’ residency status.

• That UDI exempt non-EU/EEA citizens living and working in Norway from fulfilling income-requirement measures for the application and renewal of visa permits for self-employed artists in 2020 and 2021.

• That UDI exempt non-EU/EEA citizens recently educated in Norway and are applying to jobseeker visa permits from fulfilling the savings requirement in 2020 and 2021.

• That Kulturdepartementet (KUD) Utenriksdepartementet (UD) establishes temporary crisis support funds for artists in Norway. Non-EU/EEA artists living and working in Norway need to be eligible for funding.

OUR SITUATION 

UDI has confirmed with NRK that as of the end of March 2020, there are 12,640 people from countries outside the EU/EEA with valid permits as skilled workers in Norway (article dated 22.04.2020). 

Artists and cultural workers from non-EU/EEA countries face impossible restrictions from Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI) in how we can earn our living: 

We are restricted from the right to a mixed economy (a combination of self-employment and salaried employment), an economy upon which the majority of artists in Norway rely. In a recent survey done by Norske Billedkunstnere (NBK), 75% of the respondents reported a minimum of two separate sources of income. In total, more than 100 different income combinations were registered. 

We are restricted to working exclusively within the cultural sector. This sector has been severely damaged by total or partial restrictions on activity since March 12, and its recovery is expected to be disproportionately slow. Cultural and recreational events are banned in Norway until at least June 15. Comparatively, it took until 2015, seven years, for the turnover of the Norwegian Art Market to recover from the 2008 financial crash. 

We are also expected to prove a yearly income (or savings in the case of jobseeker applicants) of at least 246 246 NOK, after expenses, to qualify for residency in this country. It has been well documented that the income of Visual Artists in Norway average way below the required annual 246 246 NOK. In 2015, this average was 89 000 NOK, which is the lowest of all groups in the cultural field. It is hardly possible for any Norwegian artist to sustain a living wage on income from self-employment alone. 

Many of us are well established in Norway with fixed addresses, families, communities, and workplaces. Many of us hold qualifications from Norwegian higher education institutions and are working in public museums and other central arts institutions. Many of us wish to continue living in Norway and are trying to fulfil the requirements for future permanent residency status. 

THE IMMEDIATE EFFECT OF THE PANDEMIC 

The economic situation created by COVID-19 has left many of us without work, and no opportunity to seek alternative employment. This is compounded by the fact that most of us cannot access unemployment benefits, temporary income protection (midlertidig inntektssikring), and economic social assistance. Those who apply for social assistance put the renewal of their residence permit at risk. 

These restrictions, among many others, do not safeguard the right to freedom of mobility, freedom of expression, basic well-being and security of non-European artists and cultural workers. 

As the Norwegian government puts into action care and relief packages for unemployed and the financially vulnerable, we urge you to secure the livelihood of non-EU/EEA cultural workers, who have contributed relentlessly to the cultural landscape of many Norwegian cities and communities. 

COVID–19 has put our futures at risk in a very short amount of time. We ask for immediate measures from the Norwegian government, Arbeids- og sosialdepartementet, Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI), Kulturdepartementet (KUD), Utenriksdepartementet (UD) and NAV in response to this urgent crisis. 

Declarations of support are received with tremendous gratitude. We hope that you are willing to spread the word and sign this petition.