Deputy Mirjam Wulfse (VVD), with culture in her portfolio, argues for a new fund that festivals such as Grasnapolsky, Bevrijdingsfestival and Bommen Berend can appeal to.
Wulfse is concerned about the future of the cultural landscape in Groningen. Not that there is any immediate danger of falling over, but the future is not bright. “Festivals are threatening to come to a standstill. Additional financial support is simply needed.”
11 million annually for the cultural sector
The province currently allocates approximately 11 million euros annually for the entire cultural sector. Fifty institutions, such as museums, sureties and festivals, receive about half of this. “Within the college I have already pointed out several times that there should be a separate arrangement for festivals and events. This has helped many organizers. I can’t say how much money we have to allocate for this right now. But I’m going to fight for more money.”
The deputy commissioned some time ago to map out the bottlenecks within the cultural sector. “A lot of institutions and the like are having a hard time. The sector was the first to come to a standstill due to corona. Now he is scrambling. Eurosonic, for example, went well. But for all organizers, life has become more expensive. The call for additional resources is great.”
Why is culture important
Apart from the upcoming provincial elections, Wulfse points out that her concerns about the continued existence and future of cultural events are widely shared in the current council. “Groningen has countless events that contribute to quality of life. Not only in the city, but certainly in the region. An event contributes to the feeling of happiness. Grasnapolsky is a good example of how a festival seeks to connect with the region. The event does not only take place in factory De Toekomst, but also in the surrounding area. It brings people together. That’s important for the sense of community.”
Grasnapolsky has made a name for himself in that regard. Not only in Groningen, but also in the rest of the country and beyond, Wulfse said at the opening of the festival on Friday evening. ,,75 percent of the artists and bands come from the country, 15 percent from Groningen and 10 percent from Europe. The reputation has been built up in ten years. So a festival like this should not be lost. It is an enrichment in terms of cultural offerings and is part of Groningen.”
Grasnapolsky organizers expect to welcome around 1200 visitors daily. The festival lasts until Sunday. Friday evening Lucky Fonz III kicked off. For more information about the festival: www.grasnapolsky.nl