We have received an initial response from the ministry to an objection from an institution to be cut away. In this case, the Netherlands Music Institute. Ministry products and services officer, appropriately named Drs Spijker, dismisses the objection, but we have some questions about the precise legal hedging of the whole thing. And, of course, we are just a bunch of silly art journalists ourselves.
Anyway: we are looking for help. Someone who can tell whether this letter is accurate or whether it is a dense cloud of smoke, an attempt by the stas to be able to wave away all criticism once and for all. Unbeknownst to anyone else.
Personally, we feel it is about one particular phrase: the law allows a grant award to be changed or reversed during its term, if there are serious reasons for doing so. But here goes. An announced system change could be a reason, but the dispute is about whether this change in the subsidy relationship may then only take effect at the time of the system change, or may already take effect at the time of an announced system change.
We have a picture.
There is more in it, but we mainly describe it as pithiness on the part of the ministry, referring to the dire financial state the country is in. After all: that should never be a reason to bend the law to your will.
So we need help! The the letter is attached, and please let us know what is true about it, what legal minefield is being entered and what the chances are going to be for other institutions.
Click to access beslissing-op-bezwaar-nederlands-muziek-instituut.pdf
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