How we look ahead together in solidarity

The current Covid-19 pandemic is affecting every single person these days. Coronavirus is everywhere. It dominates the news, and there's hardly a conversation in which the current situation doesn't come up. For many people, this crisis is already having an economic impact in addition to the emotional one. For some, unfortunately, a massive impact on their health, too.

In the creative industries the effects are felt above average in many areas – including among dubbing actors and voice artists. Two weeks ago many dubbing studios already shut down, and the advertising industry is seeing a sharp drop in orders. It hits voice artists and dubbing actors who contract COVID-19 themselves even harder, as the quarantine that comes with the illness means a 100 per cent loss of earnings.

An industry must not lose its voice

We believe that in times like these an industry has to stand closely together and – ideally – keep a common voice. The motto: competition is good for business, solidarity preserves it!

Our social security systems and the state aid that has already been provided, and may still come, offer a foundation in most cases. But the situation of freelancers and people in irregular employment is often more complex, so this aid doesn't always suffice or apply. Young voice artists and dubbing actors in particular, who are at the start of their careers and have hardly been able to build up any savings, for example, could quickly find themselves in a difficult financial situation.

Solidarität stimmt! – looking ahead together

Together with voice artists and dubbing actors we have launched the initiative "Solidarität stimmt!" and are in the process of founding a non-profit association. Many dubbing actors and voice artists are already supporting the idea with their voices. But what exactly is it about?

We're doing what we do best: speaking! Together we produce audiobooks, from which we publish 15 minutes every day, free of charge and accessible to everyone. Every day you'll hear a different voice. With this we want to give you a short break. We know that the pandemic and the restrictions and worries that come with it are a strain on everyone. We give you 15 minutes to let your thoughts wander, to be carried away in your mind and seduced by sound.

Working for free is a sensitive subject in the creative industries. In this situation, however, we have made a conscious decision to do so. We want to create something positive together and at the same time call on people to support our fundraising campaign. "Whoever can, may!" is the motto. And we don't measure solidarity by the size of the donation. It's the gesture that counts!

Because help sometimes has to be quick and unbureaucratic

Donations to "Solidarität stimmt!" go into a solidarity fund. Money from this fund is to be made available quickly and unbureaucratically to voice artists and dubbing actors whose livelihoods are under threat. Decisions on awarding this money are made in an anonymised procedure by a committee made up of dubbing actors and voice artists.

Making a difference together

We're sure that together we will get through the current crisis. If this campaign lets us support individuals and help them, at least with their material needs, in a difficult situation, we will all have won in the end! That's why we are firmly convinced: "Solidarität stimmt!"