(8 May: updated to clarify that the cut is probably 100%) The new provincial government of North Brabant is still going to help the heavily corona-affected cultural sector to overcome this year's blow. Immediately afterwards, however, it will be followed by a cut of at least 25 per cent in the total 'leisure' budget. Apparently, it means that all the money for 'art' will be taken away. This means a heavy blow for institutions that now contribute to a lively cultural life in North Brabant, such as, for example, the Bossche Boulevard festival, which was planned for August this year but cannot go ahead because of the crisis.
The new college, composed of the traditional parties CDA and VVD, supplemented by the far-right Forum for Democracy, whose leader described subsidised art as anti-popular during his victory speech, articulates its measures thus: 'In the coming months, we will come up with a new policy framework "Free Time" in which we will position the components of culture, sports and the leisure economy integrally and in an innovative way. [... ] This repositioning will be given a temporary impetus to prepare [...] cooperating parties that currently receive provincial subsidies for a gradual dismantling of our subsidy relationships towards the 'new normal' of post-2023.'
According to the text, the province no longer wants permanent relationships, but is committed to temporary support for promising initiatives.
In fact, this means that the new coalition is fully going along with FvD leader Baudet's 'boreal' course: no subsidised art, but sport and other forms of public entertainment.
Read the entire agreement here.
We will keep you informed.
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