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Support for creative activity
The Artists' Union's creative grant funds for 2025 have been fully allocated.
SUPPORT FOR CREATIVE ACTIVITY FOR CREATIVE INDIVIDUALS ENGAGED IN A LIBERAL PROFESSION
Support for creative individuals engaged in a liberal profession (i.e. engaged as a freelancer) and for artistic associations is regulated by the Creative Persons and Artistic Associations Act. The purpose of the Act is to support cultural creativity and the preservation and development of the fine arts at professional level and to improve the necessary conditions and guarantees for the creative activity of individuals through artistic associations.
If a creative person engaged in a liberal profession has a period during which their income from creative activities does not exceed one half of the support for creative activities per month as specified in subsection 18 (5) of the Creative Persons and Artistic Associations Act, the person may apply for support to the management of the artistic association.
A creative person engaged in a liberal profession who is a member of a recognised artistic association and meets the criteria of the Creative Persons and Artistic Associations Act may receive support through the association for six months with the possibility to extend the period of support for another six months. The amount of support corresponds to the national minimum wage established by the Government of the Republic, with health insurance guaranteed.
To receive support, the creative person has to file an application with their artistic association. If a creative person engaged in a liberal profession belongs to several artistic associations and has not filed an application to be supported through a single association, they are to apply for support to all the associations they belong to.
A creative person engaged in a liberal profession has the right to receive support for creative activity for creative individuals engaged in a liberal profession if he or she meets the following requirements:
(1) is between the age of sixteen and pensionable age;
(2) has not received income under a contract under the law of obligations at least during the month preceding application for the support for creative activity;
(3) is not enrolled in daytime or full-time study at an educational institution;
(4) does not serve in the Defence Forces or alternative service;
(5) does not receive a state pension or a pension paid by a foreign state;
(6) does not receive a parental benefit under the Family Benefits Act;
(7) does not receive a work ability allowance in the amount exceeding one half of the support for creative activity specified in subsection 18 (5) of the Creative Persons and Artistic Associations Act.
To apply for support for creative activity, a creative person engaged in a liberal profession has to submit to the EAA management a written application in the form approved by the EAA management and their CV.
The committee granting support for creative activity decides on the application within 15 working days of submission. Support for creative activity is paid once a month.
The EAA Support for Creative Activities and Scholarships Committee consists of Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla, Heie Treier, Kaire Rannik, Maria-Kristiina Soomre (Republic of Estonia Ministry of Culture). The coordinator for the Creative Persons and Artistic Associations Act is Mari-Liis Tammi.