Rehearsing in the winter coat. Gieten longs for its own accommodation where residents and associations can meet each other. The largest village in the municipality of Aa en Hunze still does not have one. Yet the value of a cultural center is of great importance for a village community, says the BOKD, the interest group for small villages in Drenthe.
The parties in Aa and Hunze have agreed for years that there should be a cultural center in Gieten. Associations lack places to practice and perform. They have been asking the municipality for a place for almost ten years. Several studies have been carried out by the municipality in recent years. For example, the MFC (multifunctional center) would initially be located at the Dr. Nassau College.
When that did not happen, Sportpark De Goorns came into the picture, but politics is also divided over that location. Municipal interests, D66 and CDA want new research into the best location and the use of the center. While most parties in Aa and Hunze emphasize that village halls are important, the cultural center in Gieten is hardly discussed.
Remarkably, the political parties in Aa and Hunze are not very vocal in their election manifestos about a cultural center in Gieten. Only GroenLinks-PvdA emphasizes that a cultural platform must be set up before 2028. VVD is in favor of using school buildings in combination for associations and residents. The VVD also wants to combine sport and culture in order to make optimal use of multifunctional centers.
In Gieten, the associations have not practiced in their own village for some time. One of those associations is the Eureka theater association from Gieten. The association had to cross the Gieter border and found a rehearsal space in Nieuwediep, in a space that is far from ideal. “During the winter months I almost live in my winter coat, because we always rehearse in the cold,” says Irma Abrahams of the theater association.
“We rehearse there in the large hall. It is very logical that they do not want to heat that very large hall for such a very small club.” The fact that the location at De Goorns was also canceled feels like ‘back to square one’ for Abrahams.
According to Wim Veenhof, of Dorpsbelangen Gieten, the situation in the village is ‘very dire’. “Casting needs a place where associations can do performances,” he says.
Gert-Jan Jonker, advisor at the BOKD, also emphasizes that such a place for associations is essential for a strong village. “If such associations cease due to a lack of opportunities, there is a very good chance that it will not come back.”
A place to practice and perform keeps associations going, says Jonker. “Associations are a connecting factor for society, just like village halls. Associations in which you know and meet each other are essential for a healthy and resilient society. If you want association life to be maintained, then a place is essential.”
Although a cultural center can play an important role in this, there are also other creative options, says Jonker. “You don’t necessarily have to build something new. Suppose you can somehow end up in the sports hall, or in an empty office building or in a school. I am in favor of thinking broadly.”
“What is very important is that you do this together with residents. You can plant an MFC somewhere, but what you want and can do there comes down to the residents. First investigate what exactly the need is and then see where. You can first investigate that yourself, but you can also ask residents. That is a slower route, but this way you prevent someone from lying in front.”
His advice for politicians: “Listen to the community and don’t be afraid to invest. Because it is worth it. I understand that you can only spend money once, but this money comes back in a social value.”
