Rutteleaks 3: we now know how barren it will look in the coming years: decimate culture and libraries, spare regional broadcasters

We had done the necessary research work ourselves, and then it turned out that something had also been sent to the House of Representatives, which contained many more figures. We asked for those figures and were shocked. After 2012, when the current arts plan expires and after a year of doing nothing and waiting for the whole sector to start a new arts plan in 2014, there will be almost no money left for theatres, production houses and cultural education, while most libraries will have disappeared.After all, these are all things paid for by the municipalities, and not by the state. A research firm examined what the municipalities and provinces will cut, and that apart from the already hefty cuts of more than 20 per cent that the central government is taking away from the arts through State Secretary Halbe Zijlstra.

What there will be after 2013 is three regions fighting each other over their investments in culture. Those investments are about the status of European Capital of Culture in 2018. These Olympics of the civilised world will therefore come at the expense of a large number of existing facilities. Especially in Utrecht, Friesland and Brabant

Incidentally, regional broadcasters are also spared, by all municipalities and provinces polled in the present study.

One concludes with some understatement:

The perception is that arts and culture are being cut back substantially. Municipalities cite the fact that a considerable part of the culture budget is 'free money', which means that cuts are easier to implement here than in other areas.

We briefly quote some highlights from the piece we got our hands on from our deep raincoat-clad chain-smoker in the Lower House car park:

Almost all municipalities and provinces cut back on arts and culture

In 2011, 49% of municipalities cut back on arts and culture and that percentage increases in the following years. 69% Of municipalities and almost all provinces eventually cut back on arts and culture between 2010 and 2016. 29% of municipalities say they do not yet know whether arts and culture will be cut, and only 2% are sure that no cuts will be made.

As time goes on, arts and culture will also see increasing cuts. In 2011, 8.1% of municipalities already cut more than 10% of the culture budget and in the 2013-2016 period, this will increase to 14.3% of municipalities.

How concrete are the cuts?

43% Of the municipalities have mentioned concrete proposals and amounts, 24% only indicate cuts in arts and culture, 21 % say they will and mention a total amount and 12 % have proposals but not yet mentioned amounts.

All provinces are cutting arts and culture to varying degrees, except South Holland, Overijssel, Flevoland and Limburg. The province of Utrecht expects cuts from 2012 onwards. There is a wide variation in the size of the cuts, from 20% (North Holland and Groningen) to 5% (Zeeland and Drenthe).

What is being cut back on?

The library is number one. After the library come cultural education, amateur arts, venues and performing arts, museums and then other arts. Monuments, archaeology, literature and broadcasting remain the most out of touch.

The cuts to the library are mainly achieved by closing branch offices. This gives the main library branch a different role. Especially as some municipalities are investing in new or renovated branches.

Municipalities make especially large cuts in own organisation. Cultural institutions (especially museums, archives and venues) that are part of that municipal organisation therefore often see a hefty austerity task coming their way. The internal cuts also affect the culture and monuments & archaeology departments.

The cuts to cultural education often hit youth and adult offerings. Municipalities try to maintain subsidies for children's offerings.

The cuts are not concrete in all provinces. Looking at where the cuts are hitting hardest, it is notable that four provinces are making heavy cuts to the library work. Interestingly, there are few cuts to the broadcaster, which has a legal background (minimum level Media Act).

Expected impact of cuts

Provincial spending cuts often have a direct effect on the level of arts and culture activity in municipalities. Municipalities and provinces expect the total of cuts by the state, provinces and municipalities to reduce the size and spread of the cultural offer in the Netherlands. Cultural institutions will merge or disappear. Admission prices and fees of the cultural institutions that remain will go up, also for groups that have been spared until now, such as young people and the elderly. For young people, the abolition of the culture card will be added to this. The (announced) VAT increase on performing and visual arts comes on top of the expected increase in admission prices and rates. In response, industry associations and others say they fear a decline in visitors and thus great pressure on the operation of cultural institutions.

New investments

Municipalities and provinces are making cuts, but they are also investing. Municipalities invest, for instance, to compete for the candidacy for the European Capital of Culture (2018), or for the new and renovation of venues (pop, theatre), a new library, archives and museums.

Of the provinces that have announced cuts, a number are also reinvesting in culture. The extra budget is earmarked for heritage reuse, culture & space and creative economy and, as with municipalities, provinces are investing in the candidacy for European Capital of Culture.

The entire study can be read as a pdf here: Arts and culture cuts report