Minister Jet Bussemaker embraces the report That the WRR on Thursday, March 5 released in full. In that report, titled 'Revaluing Culture', the Scientific Council for Government Policy makes a call to see culture simply as culture again. "In doing so, the WRR distances itself, and I support it, from the instrumental approach to culture. As if culture only has something to mean if it serves another purpose."
This statement is notable because the minister only recently added extra money available posed for art projects that aimed to do exactly what the minister is now distancing herself from, namely mean something for welfare or healthcare. Bussemaker was aware of that potential inconsistency when she nuanced her statement: "I do think the cultural sector needs to look for its relationship with the outside world. I have sometimes wondered why, when protesting against the previous cabinet's cuts, a lot of artists demonstrated, but why so few citizens demonstrated. All of them should be attached to culture. And I think that's where a challenge lies for the cultural sector."
In doing so, the minister reiterates a statement made earlier was also heard by the president of the Council for Culture, Joop Daalmeijer. It is a framing used more often to trivialise demonstrating minorities: why are only taxi drivers demonstrating against the arrival of über, why are only healthcare workers demonstrating against the privatisation of their profession? Surely you should expect all the people there too? But no. Because it is also that simple. People just don't like demonstrating for others.
It is unfortunate that the minister does not realise this. It is also unfortunate that we have to hear this at the presentation of a WRR report admired by all those involved in the field for its thoroughness and bold stance.
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