Cultural leave allows:

• cultural actors;
• administrative executives of federations, national networks and associations; or
• individuals designated by federations, national networks and associations;

who carry out their cultural activity as a sideline to their professional activity, to benefit from additional leave to pursue their activities in the cultural sector.

Who is concerned

Cultural actors

Cultural leave can be requested by cultural actors to participate in:

• specialised training relevant to the cultural sector, organised by an approved continuing vocational training body;
  
• high-level events in Luxembourg or abroad, in which they have been invited to participate, both in the preparation and in the execution of the events.

High-level events are cultural events:

• which are recognised in the artistic or cultural fields concerned; and
• which are internationally renowned.

The following high-level cultural events are eligible for cultural leave:

• theatrical, musical, dance or multidisciplinary productions of recognised festivals, public cultural institutions and private theatres or ensembles;
• film productions supported by the Film Fund Luxembourg;
• visual art exhibitions in museums, art galleries, art centres or at contemporary art biennials;
• festivals, fairs, literary salons and book tours;
• cultural and artistic exchanges organised in the framework of cultural agreements;
• international congresses and symposia on cultural and artistic themes;
• the presentation of awards and honours.

Administrative executives

Cultural leave may be requested by the administrative executives of federations, national networks or associations to:

• ensure the management of the federation, the national network or the organisation;
• participate in an international meeting of national federations, associations or networks;
• participate in specialised training relevant to the cultural sector, organised by an approved continuing vocational training body;

Are considered administrative executives:

• persons responsible for management or direction; or
• persons who regularly contribute to the management or direction in an administrative capacity.

Persons designated by federations, national networks or associations

Cultural leave may be requested by those designated by federations, national networks or associations for participation in high-level cultural events (see definition under 'Cultural actors' above) in Luxembourg.

Prerequisites

Cultural actors

To be eligible for cultural leave, cultural actors must:

• be continuously affiliated in Luxembourg as an employee, a self-employed worker, or as a person exercising a liberal profession, for at least the 6 months preceding the date of the application for cultural leave;
• have at least 6 months of length of service with the employer with whom they are in an employment relationship at the time of application;
• carry out their cultural activity as a sideline to another professional activity;
• demonstrate a known commitment to the Luxembourg cultural and artistic scene by virtue of:
  • the public dissemination of their works;
  • the impact of their activity; and
  • recognition by their peers.

Administrative executives

To be eligible for cultural leave, administrative executives must:

• have:
  • at least 6 months of length of service with the employer with whom they are in an employment relationship at the time of application; or
  • be affiliated as a self-employed worker or as a person exercising a liberal profession for at least 6 months prior to the date of application for leave;
• carry out their administrative activity as a sideline to another salaried or self-employed professional activity;
• have an administrative executive position:
  • in an association in the cultural sector; or
  • in a federation or national network representing the cultural sector, which:
    • plays a key role in the cultural field; and
    • receives annual financial support from the State.

Persons designated by federations

In order to benefit from cultural leave, persons designated by federations, national networks or associations to participate in high-level cultural events in Luxembourg must have at least 6 months of length of service with the employer with whom they have an employment relationship at the time of submitting their application for leave.

Activity outside the main professional activity

The cultural activity or event for which the leave is requested must not be part of the applicant's main professional activity.

Deadlines

The application for cultural leave must be submitted at least 2 months before the date of the event for which the leave is requested.

How to proceed

Filing an application

Applications for cultural leave must be made in writing and submitted to the Minister responsible for Culture (see 'Forms / Online Services'):

• by post; or
• by email to: conge.culturel@mc.etat.lu.

The application must first be submitted for opinion to the employer. The employer must give their opinion on the request for leave within 8 working days. Refusals must be duly motivated.

Granting of the cultural leave

Cultural leave and allowances are granted by the Minister for Culture on the advice of an advisory body.

Duration of the cultural leave

The cultural leave is limited:

• to 12 days per year and per beneficiary for cultural actors;
• for the administrative executives of national federations and networks in the cultural sector, whose affiliated associations or institutional members together number:
  • less than 1,000 paid-up members, to 5 days per year per body;
  • at least 1,000 paid-up members, to 10 days per year per body;
• for administrative executives of associations in the cultural sector with:
  • less than 50 paid-up members, to 2 days per year per body;
  • between 50 and 200 paid-up members, to 3 days per year per body;
  • more than 200 paid-up members, to 4 days per year per body;

National federations and networks in the cultural sector are entitled to 50 days of cultural leave per year for the participation of persons designated by them in high-level cultural events in Luxembourg.

Associations in the cultural sector are entitled to 10 days of cultural leave per year for the participation of persons designated by them in high-level cultural events in Luxembourg.

Allowances

During cultural leave, the beneficiary is paid as follows:

• for each day of leave, private-sector employees are entitled to a compensatory allowance paid by the employer, equal to the average daily salary. This allowance may not exceed 4 times the social minimum wage for unskilled workers. The allowance is paid to them by the employer, who is then reimbursed by the Government for the amount of the allowance and the employer's share of social security contributions. The application for the reimbursement should be made using the specific form;
• persons exercising a self-employed or liberal professional activity benefit from a compensatory allowance fixed on the basis of the contribution base, without exceeding 4 times the social minimum wage for unskilled workers;
• employees in the public sector continue to receive their pay and benefits. Public sector employees are those employed by:
  • the State;
  • communal authorities;
  • associations of communes;
  • public establishments and services under the supervision of the State or the communes;
  • parastatal bodies; or
  • the Luxembourg national railway company

The allowance is reimbursed to the employer or the self-employed person on the basis of a declaration (see 'Forms / Online services'), which must be sent to the Minister responsible for Culture after the end of the cultural leave and no later than 1 February of the year immediately following the year in which the leave was taken.

Impact of the cultural leave on working relationships

Cultural leave is treated as a period of actual work. During cultural leave, the legal and regulatory provisions regarding social security and protection from dismissal remain applicable for beneficiaries.

Forms / Online services

Who to contact