The National Secretariat for Culture has reached an agreement with artists working with the national performing arts organizations to more appropriately acknowledge their professional status. The artists benefitted belong to the National Symphony Orchestra, the National Orchestra of Argentinian Music “Juan de Dios Filiberto”, the Symphonic Band of Blind Musicians, the National Traditional Dance Company, the National Polyphonic Choir, the Blind Singers Choir and the National Youth Choir.
José Nun, Secretary of Culture, considered unfair Doctor Cavallo’s decision taken in 1992, because it deprived technicians of their artistic specificity, and members of the major performing arts organizations of their professionalism. These are some of his opinions on the matter (taken from www.cultura.gov.ar): “It fills me with joy that we were able to achieve our purpose. From now on, the specific artistic function of technicians will be recognized, and artists of major performing arts organizations will have a better working situtation. The first one was conquered thanks to the agreement signed the 3rd of August, and the second one due to the one signed yesterday. Thanks also to the Subsecretariat of Public Administration and other pertaining governmental departments’ collaboration, the negotiations with UPCN and ATE came happily to a closure”.
The agreement establishes better working conditions for the artists given the (up to) 65% increase in their salary, according to their category and degree in the new salary scale. Thus, starting in August, the salary of category 1, degree 10 (the highest, to which a first violin and a concertmaster belong) is Argentinian Pesos (ARS) $6,390.
The new working conditions also take into account additional remunerative items: a) solo concerts, b) instrument maintenance, payment and replacement, c) voice care, d) body care and equipment, and e) artistic training.
An example can illustrate the agreement’s importance. When Nun took on his position, a member of the National Youth Choir earned monthly ARS $400, and now will receive ARS $2,900.
To find more about this news, please contact the Communications and Press Office of the National Secretariat for Culture: Lic. Diego Marquis (Press Manager), Lic. Ariana Ponzo (Coordinator), Tel: +54+11 4129-2527 / 2528/2496/2497, [email protected]

http://www.cultura.gov.ar