Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage Heena Waleed has said that although the Olympus Theatre is rented out at a small charge, local movie producers earn approximately MVR 15 million per year. 

Speaking on the 'Ahaa' Forum, organized by the President's Office in collaboration with state media PSM, Heena revealed this in response to a question from a member of the public. The question asked why the State budget spends more on covering administrative matters and advertising in the arts and culture sector than the benefits received directly by industry professionals. 

Heena responded that the expenditure on local artists through the State Budget is heavily subsidized. 

As an example, the minister said that the National Art Gallery is offered to artists for events without any cost. Instead, the artists are required to deposit 15 percent of earnings though exhibitions held there to the National Centre for the Arts' (NCA) trust fund. 

"Now if we look at the movie industry, artists are doing major, very important work. Many movies are being screened at Olympus now, and the industry is developing swiftly. At this point, the industry revenue is at about MVR 15 million per annum now," Heena said. 

Heena disclosed that the Olympus Theatre is rented out for only MVR 2000 per night. 

However, it is a costly undertaking to ensure maintenance and upkeep of the Olympus Theatre's cinema hall, practice rooms, training rooms, art gallery and other facilities, Heena noted. 

"In reality, what we spend from the State Budget on arts is heavily subsidized and we do this to facilitate means of earning maximum income for industry professionals," Heena said. 

The government's policy is to expand earnings for artists, even if through subsidies, and to assist artists to further develop the sector, Heena stated.