Alderman Zita Pels (Dieren) is currently working out an adopted motion of the PvdD. He actually called on for banning activities with animals in municipal real estate, but that is difficult through lease agreements. The GL politician therefore turns out to be larger: Events with animals can no longer count on a subsidy in the future.
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The rule will take effect on January 1 next year. “This applies to all types of animals activities, regardless of what they mean or how large they are,” Pels writes in a letter to the city council. In it she gives some examples of art projects that received a subsidy in the past, but no longer. An earlier work of art with living chickens in the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ for example. Loei, a recent performance with ‘cow-inclusive music’, will soon be undesirable.
‘Perspective of animals’
In addition, she mentions Umwelt Amstel, a work of art by the Amsterdam artist Floris Schönfeld, which can be seen in the coming year In the Amstelpark. Part of his work is two ant colonies. “Very interesting how this turns out to be a question in society,” Schönfeld responds. It is not the first time that the ants have evoked about animal welfare.
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Remarkably, that also happened in the Artis zoo, where he 2023 Artist in Residence wax. There he exhibited Umwelt Artis, a video installation that shows the perspective of animals. Initially, the plan was to also show the ants as part of this installation. The ants would influence a computer system that generates images due to their movement. “An algorithm or AI system, you could say.”
Line between educational and entertainment
There were concerns about the use of living ants within Artis. “The question was about what art is with animals and where the line lies between education and entertainment,” says Schönfeld. “After a major internal discussion, it was then decided not to do that. I think it is definitely a relevant discussion.”
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Schönfeld emphasizes that the welfare of the animals is important to him. The colonies have grown in recent years, he noticed satisfied. “The work is about getting perspective on what intelligence is,” he says. Whether ants can suffer is still the question. But as a colony there is an intelligent whole. He wouldn’t want to hurt ants either. “The only animal I am ruthless for are mosquitoes.”
Sinterklaas horse
The subsidy for his exhibition next year has already been granted. For future work, the new subsidy rules may have consequences. “It feels a bit double. Most of the work with animals is about ecological awareness. The rule is broadly affecting makers who will agree with the regulators. It puts the discussion in black and white. I think that is a shame. They are also made for a reason. It closes the discussion a bit.”
The new subsidy rule does not apply to the Sinterklaas entry and other events under the General Local Regulation (APV). As long as the entry adheres to guidelines, a horse can participate.