ATHENS — The culture ministry is in contact with the other ministries involved, in order to support performance artists affected by the cancellation of events, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said on Wednesday.

Mendoni, responding to Communist Party of Greece (KKE) MP Ioannis Delis, said that she is working with other ministries in order to find a solution for the financial support of professionals who were forced to cancel scheduled live performances and concerts.

Mendoni clarified that the ministery provided 1.45 million euros to the Greek regions for concerts and the support of artists, without being involved in the planning and organisation of the events. Compensation of the artists involved was at the discretion of the organisers, since they could not be paid by the culture ministry, she added.

Mendoni said that the amounts offered to the regions for this purpose will remain in their coffers, with a plea that it be directed toward cultural events. She also explained there is no institutional framework for the compensation of artists commissioned to perform by local authorities but offered assurances that it "is within our responsibilities to examine with the other ministries involved how we can support the artists affected by the cancellations."

She also clarified that artists under contract for events (15 of the 270) organised by the culture ministry will be paid.