Government Regulates Fees for Cultural Event Services

By Resolution No. 40 of January 23, the Council of Ministers approved regulations on the procedure, conditions, and amounts of remuneration for services provided by directing and production teams, artistic collectives, and individual performers in the organization and conduct of centralized cultural events. The document was published today on the National Legal Internet Portal and will enter into force 10 days after publication.

The regulations establish that the size of a directing and production team must be optimal and may not exceed 50 people. It may be increased to up to 100 people in cases of high event complexity, participation of 1,000 or more people, or venue capacity exceeding 10,000 seats.

Remuneration amounts for services provided by directing and production teams, artistic collectives, and individual performers in organizing and conducting events are set in base units and depend on the complexity of the event.

The state body acting as the event organizer is entitled to set specific remuneration amounts. Bonuses are предусмотрены for collectives and performers depending on their statuses and titles. Thus, academic or honored collectives may receive a bonus of up to 40%, while those holding both national and academic status may receive up to 60%. People’s Artists may receive bonuses of up to 100%, and Honored Artists and Cultural Workers up to 50%.

The total remuneration for one person is capped if they perform several services. It amounts to 75 base units (3,510 rubles) or 150 base units (6,750 rubles), depending on the complexity of the event. Criteria are established for reducing remuneration by 25–50% in cases of poor-quality performance or missed deadlines. Remuneration will also be reduced when using a “plus” phonogram.

The resolution limits profitability for equipment suppliers and manufacturers of decorations, costumes, and props to no more than 5%.

Event complexity is determined in points and mainly depends on which state body acts as the customer or organizer:

• events held with the participation of and/or by order of the president — 10 points;
• international-level events, official visits by foreign officials and delegations, and events held within the framework of Days of Culture of the Republic of Belarus abroad — 9 points;
• events held by decision or order of the Council of Ministers, the Council of the Republic, the House of Representatives, or the Presidential Administration — 9 points;
• other national and regional (Minsk city) events, including those dedicated to state holidays and commemorative dates — 8 points;
• district (city) and other events — 7 points.

A scriptwriter may receive from 20 to 70 base units (900–3,150 rubles), and a chief director from 20 to 80 base units (900–3,600 rubles). Remuneration amounts are established for dozens of services, including those of camera operators, artists, makeup artists, prop masters, photographers, and others.

For artistic collectives and individual performers, remuneration amounts also vary depending on the degree of participation in the event: a full concert, one to two numbers, or three or more numbers. Thus, a solo vocalist may receive from 20 to 55 base units (900–2,475 rubles) for a full event, from 13 to 30 base units (585–1,350 rubles) for three or more numbers, and from 8 to 20 base units (360–900 rubles) for one to two numbers.