From 2026, the municipality of Hoogeveen wants to spend an additional 265,000 euros in an additional subsidy to Stichting Cultuurhuis Hoogeveen. The organization, which includes the tamboer and the stage, is short of tons every year, making the future uncertain.
The fixed costs have risen sharply due to sustained energy costs and additional staff costs. As a result, more money goes out and less money comes in. An annual gap of 350,000 euros is mentioned.
The extra pocket money must help the foundation and comes on top of the annual subsidy of 1.2 million euros. The city council still has to agree to an increase and will be considering this in June.
Director director Pieter-Bas Rebers of Cultuurhuis Hoogeveen rang the bell about the problems at the municipality last year. Some of the deficits could still be taken care of with money from our own piggy bank, but that will no longer be feasible in the coming years.
Hoogeveen therefore decided to set up an investigation through Bureau Berenschot to see where the Cultuurhuis could earn or save money. The Tamboer scores well in terms of shows and visitor numbers, so there seems to be no change.
The researchers do argue that it is still possible to make it more sustainable. Among other things by replacing solar panels with new ones. That could yield a maximum of 10,000 euros per year.
Berenschot also says that the foundation should look for creative ways to earn extra income. A target of between 75,000 euros and 80,000 euros is mentioned.
Rebers says that the foundation is not sitting still and is busy boxing that for each other.
According to the researchers, the foundation has little fat on the bones, because the municipality did not let the subsidy grow with the rising costs. The gap therefore became bigger and bigger. Hoogeveen now increases the subsidy.
Earlier it was discussed to replace paid staff with volunteers. That would lead to dissatisfaction among the staff. Cutting back on Jeugdtheater is also mentioned. Rebers said earlier for both of them that he did not feel anything.
Hoogeveen writes that all the aforementioned measures were discussed in close consultation with Stichting Cultuurhuis Hoogeveen. The solutions must again offer the future for the foundation.
If the situation is not resolved, then the piggy bank’s piggy bank is probably empty within two years. “After which the theater may go bankrupt,” writes Hoogeveen.