And so deficits loom. Never desirable, but certainly not at a time when you have to present just fine results to the province to qualify for even more money. So the bill has to be passed elsewhere.
But where?
Marketing and fundraising cannot be cut. In fact, more money and manpower are needed there, otherwise the objectives cannot be achieved. The number of concerts cannot be reduced either, as visitor numbers are also guaranteed to increase. Education and projects to attract new and especially younger audiences also require substantial investments.
Remains: one's own organisation.
Unlike, say, a regional hospital, the organisational structure of a regional symphony orchestra is very 'flat'. Nor are the conductor and soloists the heaviest expense. The staff as well as the capital is on stage and in the orchestra pit.
Continue with a smaller orchestra?
Impossible. After all, both orchestras need to retain their own timbre to maintain a supra-regional appeal. So: cooperate, of course, but not so much that you only need each other for some Mahlers and Bruckners. Each orchestra must be able to do Beethoven by itself and continue to do so.
So no smaller orchestra. Everyone gets to stay. But the size of the musicians' employment contract will be reduced to 60%. No wonder, then, that the reform, the desired "turnaround to a flexible organisation" is said to cost the Gelderland Orchestra alone 6.9 million.
The orchestras state unequivocally:
The transformation of the orchestra must also take place at grassroots level. Musicians must start to feel jointly responsible for the orchestra's earning power. New activities that do not directly belong to the core business must also contribute to generating publicity and/or earning power.
But that is precisely what is difficult. The Berenschot report points to obstacles in the current orchestra collective agreement. A collective labour agreement that has already expired for two years, but orchestra managements refuse a new agreement.
And so Van der Bunt concludes in his counter-expertise:
At HGO, the decision has been taken to reduce employment contract to 60%. Is that the right approach? The musicians are then made jointly responsible for solving the problem. Should you make the musicians pay the price for that?
Yes, say the orchestra managements. How exactly is not yet clear in Gelderland, as the corporate, employment and tax details are currently being worked out with outside experts.
And who are these externals? Obviously the NSO, with which staff matters are now shared. And that is precisely where the musicians are beginning to worry. It is clear from the NSO's opera grant application that the musicians will be accommodated in a separate company. Signing up for that bv means waiving waiting fees and part of the pension. The union is understandably very worried.
No collective agreement, no friction costs, but 40% less salary and financially co-responsible for a perilous future. An example for the whole sector, said state secretary Zijlstra.We now understand why.
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