The Orchestra of the East is cutting its coat of arms, focusing primarily on Overijssel and has applied for collective redundancy. This - and a whole lot more - can be read in the new business plan. It is enough for the province to release 1.1 million euros once and make 3.5 tonnes of annual subsidy available again from now on. The orchestra is thus saved. For the time being. And fortunately there is also Maestro, which will bring in much-needed tons this year. However, it remains uncertain whether the orchestra will still qualify for a place in the Basic Cultural Infrastructure (BIS). If it is up to the now departed director Harm Mannak, at least not.
Who pays the bill?
Not directly the people of Overijssel; after all, the money was already earmarked for the orchestra, but was frozen due to the disappointing performance of the previous business plan. Based on the new plan, the funds will now be released. Things will be different in two years: at the same time, it was decided that the Orchestra of the East will then again receive an annual subsidy of 350,000 euros, on top of the state subsidy of 3.5 million. Exactly like before that damned business plan.
Business as usual, all through?
True, were it not for the fact that the province pumped over eight million into the orchestra with the sole legitimisation that with this financial injection, the orchestra would end its subsidy relationship with the province. That is patently failed. Indeed, the orchestra is at the same point as it was four years ago, but without its own reserves and now has to downsize. The millions invested are gone.
In-depth research, then?
No, it is precisely those missing millions that the province refuses to investigate further. The province finds it sufficient to conclude that the previous plan did not work and that the millions were thus spent on projects with purely negative results. The fact that a small army of consultants, friendly communication agencies and ICT companies have meanwhile earned heavily from what was actually a cultural subsidy is covered up with the cloak of love.
No self-reflection at all?
Not quite. Indeed, who does look back in detail is the orchestra director described by the deputy as failing - and who has since resigned Harm Mannak (the Supervisory Board is still sitting there). His conclusion? It's the economy, stupid. It was not because of the plan, but because of the crisis. He would have liked more time and a little more money to make everything a success after all.
"It became clear in 2014 that the agreed four-year period was too limited a period for the orchestra's new revenue model to succeed. For that reason, I called attention to the orchestra's position ahead of the 2015 provincial council elections."
This is remarkable, because it does not square with the utter astonishment that the province expressed up to November 2015 about the financial problems, which had arisen under this director. And it becomes even more painful, when Mannak writes:
"From various contacts within the provincial organisation, representatives of the orchestra learned, on several occasions, that when the coalition was formed, the orchestra had found a listening ear for this and there was willingness and financial room to support the orchestra (extra)."
Indeed, this means that in April 2015, the parties calling the shots in Overijssel (CDA, VVD, D66 and CU) were aware of the problems ánd, moreover, knew how much money was still needed. So how the very same parties reacted shocked in November 2015 is actually quite baffling.
So the departed chief executive wants to bring regional politics into his trap. Even more so? Yes, as Mannak immediately delivers but undisguised criticism of the new plan (which was a downgrade of his own plans):
"The ambition to be and remain a fully-fledged orchestra that can compete with colleagues both nationally and internationally and thus make its contribution to the region was and is an essential ambition. A secular regional orientation ultimately leads to a decline in artistic level and quality with all its social and economic consequences."
At this very moment, the new interim director Bart van Meijl has to submit a new grant application to the Culture Council to stay in the BIS. But fortunately, at least Mannak himself still sees something positive in his own failed plan. It turns out he sacrificed himself for a greater cause:
"That, incidentally, in the entrepreneurship shown, mistakes were also made is obvious. They are regrettable but also constitute important lessons in the further development of entrepreneurship in the culture sector."
The musicians foot the bill.
This is clear: the bill for the cutbacks - introduced four years ago - lies first and foremost with the musicians of the orchestra. Collective dismissals have been requested for them. While most will return to salaried employment immediately, with contracts reduced by 30% or more.
"Given the dire financial situation and the desire not only to balance the 2016 budget but also to work on strengthening the capital position, we need to rethink the current staffing of the orchestra. The 2016 budget therefore takes into account a reduction of 30% for the appointment of musicians in the orchestra. At that point, the total decline from 2012 will be 40% (orchestra formation will come to 60%)."
That smaller formation is also going to affect programming:
"The downsizing of the orchestra also has implications for programming, with the starting point being that the available strength is leading in putting together the orchestra's basic programming. Then, based on the available budgets, the amount of external hiring can and may be determined to balance the programming with the artistic starting points. The artistic starting points are further aligned with the implementation of the provincial core tasks and spearheads as indicated above."
In addition, the bill will fall on rest of the province's cultural institutions in two years' time. After all, the provincial culture budget is very unlikely to go up. That promised 3.5 tonnes will have to come from somewhere. This is money that cannot be spent elsewhere. Not to mention the 1.1 million now released, which could have been spent on other cultural things (libraries, theatres, artists).
The bosses escape.
The responsible supervisory board is phasing out, the former director is even considering a claim against the orchestra, according to rumours, and those in charge within the province are washing their hands of the matter.
Godlof is there Maestro that helps plug budget holes. The municipality of Enschede guarantees half a million. Peanuts compared to the guarantee of 32 million for FC Twente. To be continued, of course.
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