Amersfoort, O Amersfoort. My cultural vision of lack

In a lost hour, I read the Cultural Vision Amersfoort 2030. Not reading material to sit on the edge of your seat, but perfectly suitable for a train journey.

I am not used to reading policy documents. It struck me that the tone of the Amersfoort Cultural Vision was confident, focused and determined. Firm language. No room for doubt.

I wondered if this was one of those reports that disappears in a drawer and you never hear from it again?

Cultural offer

Very briefly something about the content. Compared to the number of inhabitants, the cultural offering in Amersfoort lags behind. Something needs to be done about this. There will be a comprehensive survey of museums and other cultural institutions. More cultural education in schools. It must become easier to apply for subsidies. That way, the municipality can step back and give space to initiatives by residents.

At that time, the train stopped. There was a technical glitch, duration of the delay unknown. Reactions to the Culture Vision were diverse. The compilers were positive, but a lot of criticism also appeared on Facebook. This brought me to the question (we were still standing still): what do I expect from the municipality in terms of culture? I think it is good that the city subsidises a theatre, film house, pop stage and museums. But should community money also be used for, say, studios or exhibition space of local artists? Why support a sculptor and not a handyman?

I am usually better at asking questions than answering them.

Miss

And what about the festivals? Why does one festival get funding and the other not. At that moment, the train started moving again and I realised that my personal Cultural Vision Amersfoort anno 2017 is one of lack.

I miss Armando's paintings.

I am no art connoisseur and it is not for me to describe his paintings, but until the fire over a decade ago now, I visited his museum in the Elbow Church almost every Sunday afternoon.

Why one artist's work touches you to the core and another artist's work leaves you cold?

As noted, I am better at asking questions than answering them.

Load

Of course, I can still immerse myself in Armando's work; a bike ride of over twenty kilometres to the Museum Oud-Amelisweerd is enough. But because of his connection with the city and the events at Kamp Amersfoort, the paintings seem to take on even more charge here.

Maybe that's nonsense and I don't feel like cycling those 20 kilometres every Sunday afternoon.

Armando's work is likely to have to disappear from the Oud-Amelisweerd museum.

Do paintings belong anywhere?

The train raced between meadows. My thoughts wandered. The woman opposite me was reading the latest Dan Brown. I have always found The Da Vinci Code a lousy book.