He is a professor of it, so if there is a problem in the economics of culture, Arjo Klamer knows about it. He says there has been growing resentment against subsidies for years. So the arts sector will have to get used to making a living in a different way from now on.
We now think too traditionally first about subsidy, the Rotterdam professor tells us in the interview we had with him during the Performing Arts Congress 2012, at the Rotterdam Doelen, at the end of May. The interview following his presentation is part of a whole series of interviews which we, together with internet and marketing agency wecross made.
The solution Arjo Klamer puts forward in this conversation: after-talk is much more important than a pre-talk. In other words: if we can talk about football for so long after the event, why not make sure the same happens with theatre? Interesting thought, but the eagerness with which the marketers present welcomed the idea needs a comment. Because: theatre is already a form of afterthought. We still play new versions of Hamlet or Uncle Wanja. Apparently, those performances once intended as one-offs still need commentary and analysis, and we just can't get enough of them. Of what 1604 handball match can you say that?
Well then.
More important, then, is the observation that there is over 40 billion in hot money waiting to be spent. Hot money, in the hands of rich people and corporations who would love to spend that money on something cultural. If only they knew on whom.
Work to be done.
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