The Ministry of Culture conducted an audit of the Artists' Union. They examined how the Union used creative grants and artist salaries.
In May, it became clear that the Union fell victim to fraud. A fraudster stole over 680,000 euros.
During the audit, it was found that creative grants and salaries were paid to the right people. However, the control over the use of funds was too weak.
The Union did not have clear rules for distributing grants. The accounting rules were also outdated.
Accountants were able to make payments without the consent of another person. The computer systems were also old and insecure.
The Ministry of Culture gave the Union time to make improvements until December. At the same time, the Ministry praised the Union for quick changes.
The Union must now sell some items and take out a loan to repay the money. Processes will change by 2026.
The Artists' Union said they had rules for distributing grants. However, these were not officially approved.
The Union has made many improvements since May. But the new rules require a lot of money, which the Union does not have.
The Union is organizing an auction to cover part of the damage. The auction will sell 162 artworks. The exhibition is open from September 19 to October 7. The auction will take place from October 8 to 10.