Andorran Artists Question Revised Statute at Culture Ministry Session

Around 50 artists attended the first information session organised by the Andorran Culture Ministry at the Rosaleda on Thursday afternoon to discuss the revised Artists' Statute, now under parliamentary review.

Professionals raised numerous questions about the updated law's provisions, including whether salaried workers—such as teachers—can register as professional artists without resigning from their main jobs or becoming self-employed. Attendees queried how irregular incomes from sporadic gigs, like two or three performances a month, would qualify them, and whether contributions under the special scheme would count toward retirement pensions.

The new text drops the original requirement of proving artistic activity as the primary income source equivalent to the minimum wage of 1,568 euros monthly. Instead, a commission will assess eligibility based on training, experience, and artistic trajectory. Salaried artists can now access statute benefits without self-employment registration, though they must still demonstrate minimum-wage-level earnings from artistic work. This excludes part-time workers below that threshold, a gap Culture Minister Mònica Bonell said requires detailed analysis.

Bonell highlighted benefits like full CASS coverage for work-related accidents during performances. She noted only 15 of nearly 400 registered creators had joined the artists' registry by September, and the changes aim to broaden participation while mapping the sector's professionalisation for targeted aid.

Performers like Aina Sánchez described income instability, citing weeks of unpaid preparation and drawing parallels to France's intermittent artist model. Musician Juli Barrero called the statute's design challenging given the field's diversity but valued the direct input. Mònica Vega praised the session for addressing concerns raised in person and by email.

Bonell recognised that the law addresses general cases but needs refinement for individual circumstances. Officials plan further review before parliamentary approval by term's end.