Overijssel is sweeping away culture. But like everywhere else, it is not an election issue

82% cut in Overijssel culture budget

No, the VVD did not become the largest party in Overijssel in the previous provincial elections, the PvdA attracted 1.6% more voters, but if there is a province where Halbe Zijlstra's nationally initiated policy had an effect, it was that province. Residents were quick to notice this, but research by consultancy firm Berenschot now also shows numerically that where Friesland, Gelderland and Zeeland increased the arts budget, other provinces cut back a little, Overijssel cut the culture budget by 82% despite the Essent millions.

That there is any culture at all in Overijssel seems to be thanks to Theater Sonnevanck, the Dutch Reisopera, the Rijksmuseum Twente and THE Symphony Orchestra. But let those of all places be subsidised directly by the state and therefore not by the provincial culture budget. Although then again, this does not apply to the orchestra, which after all such a large amount from the province was paid out so that the orchestra would pretty much from now on have to manage without any government support whatsoever - thereby probably chasing the actual provincial culture cuts to over 90%.

 

THE Orchestra and THE rotating CDA

But THE Orchestra has become a kind of Greece. Millions are needed again, and presumably it will be said again that they are needed for a glorious future.

It fits the picture that provinces no longer provide structural support, but opt for impulse funding. We had previously wondered whether the impulse towards the orchestra was a wise use of cultural funds, but after reading the election manifestos, CDA Overijssel too appears to be pulling its hands away from the orchestra.

For how else can one explain that the CDA election programme mentions just about everything and everyone under the heading of culture, although it still uses the name traded in a year ago for the Dutch Travel Opera, but with the major exception of not THE Orchestra? It is no secret that internally the CDA was quite divided over the multimillion-dollar support, but as it becomes more and more apparent that that support has not had the desired result, the Christian Democrats are looking for a different path, chatting a bit about the importance of culture, heritage and accessibility.

 

VVD, PVDA and D66 pretend their noses are bleeding

This is somewhat cowardly. After all, the support they agreed to came from the VVD, which, as if there was nothing to learn from all the figures, in its election manifesto once again talks of "crowdfunding, sponsorship, funds, patronage and private contributions" instead of subsidies. Because "a thriving sector knows how to attract visitors, donors, volunteers and sponsors" in order to "become more market-oriented". Furthermore, VVD wants to "encourage cooperation with business and education so that dependence on subsidies decreases."

That link with business, well, we know it, but how can collaboration with education help with grant independence? Educational projects cost money, don't deliver that directly. Or does VVD expect a lot from education party D66 in this respect?

It is true that this party also commits heavily to education and culture provincially, no party with so much text on culture, and it all sounds nice, but nowhere does D66 even suggest a way to finance all that. In that, the party is comparable to PvdA, also full of cultural ideas, but getting concrete? No.

 

Parties least connected with culture are fairest

SP is specific though. The provincial election manifesto does not mention culture at all. It couldn't be clearer.

Or yet: the PVV.

"Culture has existed as long as there have been humans. Basically, art is just one part of Culture. But in Overijssel, art equals culture. Art policy, therefore, is still only about subsidy. Culture has thus become Art subsidy. Subsidising `art` is something of recent years. Mozart and Beethoven did not get it. Rembrandt had to do it all himself. Subsidy for lazy people. Culture has thus turned into "subsidy for elitist art". The example of this in Overijssel is the soap opera surrounding the ´Orkest zonder naam´ (Orchestra Without a Name), which has been given many millions in recent years without improving its performance. Visitor numbers are dramatically low. The PVV believes that culture in Overijssel is more than an orchestra without paying visitors. The PVV believes that people and institutions in the arts sector should fend for themselves, just like bakeries, garages and barber shops. After all, ordinary citizens cannot live like it's the weekend every day either."

It is easy to ridicule PVV, especially after the conclusion:

"So focus on: Carbid shooting, Curling, Vlöggelen of the Poaskeerls, Midwinter horn blowing, Drumbands and the Archery."

But what obscures all that childish capitalisation is the PVV's real final conclusion:

"Cultural education and participation is a task for municipalities."

Shifting substantive and financial responsibility. And in this, the parties with the least interest in culture are the most honest, because all major parties repeat national positions, add a few words about provincial heritage and that's it. No or hardly any amounts or concrete companies are mentioned (apart from the CDA's rather significant leap in Overijssel by not mentioning HET Orkest).

 

Culture, wasda?

This is not surprising. Overijssel's cultural policy is characteristic of all provinces and who bases their vote on cultural policy now, even if you work in the sector? After all, there are bigger issues, now that the central government is decentralising more and more, but leaving the really important issues to the municipalities in the process. Provincial elections are increasingly degenerating into an opportunity to judge the incumbent national government and make life miserable. And the programmes are geared to that. Knowledge of provincial culture is either non-existent or plays no role at all in the provincial programmes.

It's about windmills and roads and Cabinet Rutte II, not culture, stupid!