Cultural employment trends and crisis mitigation strategies in Central European states

Abstract This study delves into the multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Central Europe's cultural sector. Early responses to the pandemic predicted significant job losses and suggested that national governments would disproportionately neglect the pandemic's financial impact on the cultural sector and fail to prioritize cultural recovery. This research aims to examine policy implementation and its real-world effects on cultural employment trends in the crisis aftermath. We focus on the impact of public spending on cultural services in Central Europe, particularly the funding allocated to mitigate the pandemic's effects in 2020 and 2021. By analysing financial measures and comparing Eurostat's cultural indicators, this study seeks to deepen our understanding of cultural policies in the region. It highlights the diverse nature of these financial measures and assesses their effectiveness in sustaining cultural employment post-pandemic. With a few exceptions, the adopted measures helped to maintain pre-pandemic employment rates across Central European countries. Key findings reveal the vulnerabilities and adaptations of the sector, shedding light on the broader implications of COVID-19 on cultural policies in Central Europe.