“Everything depends on enthusiasm”: why cultural workers in Latvia are demanding an additional 30 million euros per year

This was discussed in the program [TV3](https://tv3.lv/zinas/latvija/kultura-latvija-turas-uz-darbinieku-entuziasma-nozare-prasa-skaidru-planu-algu-celsanai/) "900 seconds" by Sandis Voldiņš, the chairman of the board of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet. ### Salaries lag behind, while funding is decreasing Representatives of the cultural sector are organizing a protest action "Culture Survives" (Kultūra izdzīvo) to draw attention to the long-standing problem of low salaries. According to Voldiņš, governments have repeatedly promised to improve the situation for cultural workers, but the sector has yet to see tangible results. > "Now that moment has come, but once again we have not seen any improvements. On the contrary, funding has been cut over the past two years," he stated. Cultural institutions have tried to independently compensate for the lack of funds: they raised ticket prices, developed additional services, and increased their own revenues. However, as the head of the opera emphasizes, such an approach cannot solve the wage issue across the entire sector. Museums, libraries, and cultural heritage institutions are particularly struggling, as their ability to earn independently is significantly limited. ### To increase salaries, an additional 30 million euros is needed annually According to data provided by Voldiņš, the average salary in the performing arts sector is currently around 1400 euros before taxes. At the same time, the difference between the earnings of cultural workers and the average salary in the public sector has reached about 500 euros per month. To eliminate this gap, the sector would need an additional approximately 30 million euros per year. Voldiņš acknowledges that it is unlikely to receive the entire amount at once within a single state budget. Therefore, cultural representatives insist on at least a gradual increase in salaries according to a previously agreed schedule. > "We understand that this is impossible in one year, but let’s do something to move according to the plan and know where we will be in three, four, or five years," he emphasized. ### Young specialists are leaving for abroad Low salaries, according to Voldiņš, pose a threat not only to current cultural workers but also to the future of the entire sector. Young specialists are increasingly choosing jobs outside Latvia, where they can expect significantly higher incomes. The head of the opera also pointed out the situation in neighboring Baltic countries. According to him, in Lithuania and Estonia, the salaries of cultural workers already exceed those in Latvia. Moreover, both countries have allocated additional funding for salary increases next year. Thus, Latvian cultural institutions are finding it increasingly difficult to compete for qualified employees even with their closest neighbors. ### “Culture relies on the enthusiasm of workers” The symbol of the protest action was a nearly drained battery, reflecting the state of people who continue to work in the sector despite financial difficulties. > "What is happening in culture right now largely depends on the enthusiasm of the workers," Voldiņš admitted. According to him, if the situation with salaries does not change, cultural institutions will increasingly lose employees who will prefer other fields of activity. Industry representatives emphasize that they are not demanding an immediate solution to all problems, but a clear and realistic plan that will allow for a gradual reduction of the wage gap and retention of specialists.