The government’s stinginess towards Drenthe when it comes to culture is pitiful. That 2 euros per Drent must quickly increase.
Member of Parliament Hilda Mulder (VVD) expressed the opinion of many Drenthe politicians on Wednesday during the first debate on a new culture memorandum. The fact that only 0.3 percent of the government’s cultural budget ends up in Drenthe is a thorn in everyone’s side. A stronger lobby, among other things, must turn the tide.
Motion of the House of Representatives
That lobby is already in full swing, assured culture representative Jisse Otter (BBB). “I have already addressed State Secretary Gunay Uslu about this three times,” he stated. “And in addition, the House of Representatives has adopted a motion in which it insists on a better distribution of cultural funds.” In North Holland, the government contributes 60 euros per inhabitant to cultural facilities, but this is also because Amsterdam has many national facilities such as the Rijksmuseum.
The province is the most important financier of cultural life in Drenthe. After the elections in March, a new council of Provincial Executive took office this summer and now a new policy plan for culture must be drawn up. The first debate took place in the Drenthe Parliament on Wednesday, and in the coming months the province will also talk to cultural facilities and residents.
Subsidy desk
The members of Parliament were allowed to hand in their wish lists to cultural representative Otter on Wednesday. Karolien Pouwels (Christian Union) wants, among other things, a counter where cultural institutions can turn for advice if they want to submit a subsidy application to a fund. Simon Zandvliet (SP) wants more lessons in culture in schools.
Cultural heritage also belongs to cultural policy. Jur Faber (Party for the Animals) believes that things such as Easter bonfires and carbide shooting should be allowed to disappear as traditions. He received support from Benide Bolumba (GroenLinks), but Gert Veltrop (BBB) opposed this intention.
Hard choices
An important issue for the coming years is whether the province should make hard choices and divide the available money (about 18 million euros annually) among fewer institutions. The effect is then ultimately greater. Most members of Parliament seem to have little sympathy for this and are advocating for accessibility of the offer for all Drenthe residents. Nico Uppelschoten (PVV) has little interest in ‘elitist’ projects such as Into Nature, in which artists create a work of art in the landscape.
Deputy Otter countered that such a manifestation attracts enthusiasts from a somewhat larger area, and that it ‘helps to put Drenthe on the map’. The new cultural policy will be discussed several times, he added.