Art lovers from Amstelveen and the surrounding area have made a passionate plea for the continued existence of the Cobra Museum tonight in the Amstelveen town hall. They begged the councilors present not to stop the subsidy for the museum. The council members present listened to the emotional speeches without batting an eyelid. In contrast to the many attendees who expressed their support for the museum with loud applause.
The speakers were given ample time to explain to the council members why the museum should not be lost. If the annual municipal subsidy of 1.2 million euros ends, the museum will most likely go bankrupt.
Yet that is the proposal that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen is making to the council. The college is done with the financial mess at the museum that will lead to a low point this year with an expected loss of 700,000 euros. Research commissioned by the municipality shows that the Cobra Museum has not made a loss since 2003 for only two years.
“What will happen if you take down the Cobra Museum? Will it become a tapestry hall?”
Well-known actor and artist Jeroen Krabbé kicked off with a cry for help in a recorded video message: “The Cobra is the heart of Amstelveen, what will happen if you remove it? Will it become a carpet hall? How do you envision that?”
According to Krabbé, the Cobra Museum in Amstelveen has international allure. “There are international masterpieces on display. Who has that at the moment? No one, except the Cobra Museum.” He emphasized the important task of the municipality in the continued existence of the cultural institution. And ‘of course’ Krabbé also understands that the sun rises for nothing and that money plays a significant role, but according to him this cannot be the reason why the museum is ‘thrown away’.
Former VVD alderman Piet van der Heuvel called the issue at hand a ‘historic decision for Amstelveen.’ This was also emphasized by volunteer at the museum Daniëlle de Kluijver, who emphasized the social function of the cultural institution.
Museum director Stefan van Raay subsequently joined in. He recalled the ‘immeasurability’ of the museum: “After the corona period, there was an immediate queue. We were overwhelmed by that emotional joy.”
“Art without people no longer lives”
According to him, the public surveys of recent years show how much the public appreciates the Cobra Museum. “The national and international appreciation for the Cobra and the team is great, but immeasurable.”
Petition
Museum director Van Raay also emphasized that the art hanging in the museum will no longer be worth anything if it is collecting dust in a shed. “Art moves, comforts, challenges, surprises and brings pleasure, but art without people is no longer alive.” The museum is tonight started a petition to keep the doors open. It has already been signed more than 500 times in a few hours. Whether that makes sense, will become clear next Wednesday. Then the Amstelveen city council will make a final decision about the future of the Cobra Museum.