Primarily composed of micro and small businesses, the creative industry and the cultural sector of Rio Grande do Sul were also heavily affected by the May floods and are seeking recovery. These sectors can now rely on the Sebraetec Supera Cultura program, which aims to assist entrepreneurs in this segment in developing plans for the recovery of spaces, structures, and equipment. Carried out in partnership with the State Department of Culture (Sedac), the program will offer financial support of up to R$ 10,000. Small businesses related to the cultural sector, such as artists, musicians, photographers, designers, seamstresses, artisans, art and recording studios, provided they are microenterprises, will be able to access the program.
“This program was very well received, and there was pent-up demand. The partnership with Sedac was precisely to create a direct line of service to the cultural sector. It is necessary to value these micro and small businesses in the sector. Now there is an exclusive channel for the culture of Rio Grande do Sul. It is an opportunity for companies to reinvest and restructure themselves. The production chain was greatly impacted during the floods in May. In addition to everything involving this segment having come to a standstill, many suffered material losses. This is an area that has already been weakened after the pandemic, which reinforces the need for a specific program”, highlights Amanda Paim, specialist in Tourism and Creative Economy at Sebrae RS.
The creative industry encompasses a wide range of companies and professionals who use creativity as the basis for their products and services, including areas such as fashion, design, digital games, and cinema. The cultural sector as a whole encompasses institutions and projects dedicated to the production and promotion of culture, such as bookstores, ateliers, art studios, museums, and event producers.
Thus, various types of businesses, from music schools to architecture offices, including sewing and makeup studios, are part of these sectors that were severely affected by the floods. Therefore, Amanda Paim adds, the importance of launching Sebraetec Supera Cultura to assist and revive this sector as quickly as possible.
“As soon as the State began assessing the damage caused by the floods in May, Sedac mobilized its structure to provide support and assistance to the cultural sector. Among the initiatives, the partnership with the Legislative Assembly for the Sarau do Solar, the holding of the performing arts festival Movimenta Cena Sul with funds from Banrisul, the speedy release of funds from the Paulo Gustavo Law (LPG), and the immediate work to resume cultural programming at Sedac institutions stand out. Other actions provided resources directly to cultural agents, such as support for individual microentrepreneurs with the MEI RS Calamidade program. Now, we are expanding even further, based on this partnership with Sebrae, which has expertise in guiding and guiding companies in the construction of strategies and work plans. Sebraetec Supera Cultura goes beyond financial support for cultural producers and entrepreneurs: it is an opportunity for growth and reorganization of your business”, points out the State Secretary of Culture, Beatriz Araujo.
To have access, the cultural agent or entrepreneur needs to register on the program website –sebrae.rs/sebraetecsuperaculturars. From there, a Sebrae RS consultant will visit the physical space of the company or project to assess the damage caused by the flooding, as well as the loss of materials and structures that have not yet been resolved.
On this occasion, an assessment will be conducted to identify what the business needs to fix or acquire in order to resume its operations. The program will subsidize, for example, the recovery or purchase of sound and lighting equipment, tools, furniture, and repairs to the space's structure.
Based on the identified needs, Sebraetec Supera Cultura will assist the entrepreneur in hiring services and purchasing or repairing the company's or project's items. At the end of these repairs, Sebrae RS will reimburse part of the costs, providing financial support for the remaining amount needed for the complete recovery of the business. In addition to financial support, the initiative will help strengthen the entire cultural production chain of Rio Grande do Sul, recovering businesses and stimulating services.
