Learning guitar chords or rehearsing ballet dance steps, it always happened at Scala in Meppel. That cultural center stops with extracurricular lessons. According to the municipality, residents need not fear: other parties have reported in Meppel who want to take over Scala’s lessons. The city council is not convinced.
Scala’s board pulls the plug on the foundation. The arts center is active in Meppel, Hoogeveen, De Wolden and Westerveld, among others. In recent years, the survival of Scala has regularly been under pressure, now the foundation doubts whether it will still be able to pay the salaries from 1 January. Scala is working on liquidation plans to prevent bankruptcy.
irreparable
Politics in Meppel wonders whether those plans for abolition do not break things that are irreparable, which people later regret. Councilor Elisabeth Bakkenes (SteM) looks ahead to the new culture memorandum that will be made in May 2023. What if cultural education is now discontinued, but will be valued again in May? “That’s why we have to make sure that we don’t break anything irreparably yet,” says Bakkenes.
She calls on alderman Jeannet Bos to prevent the permanent closure of Scala, at least until May next year. “Take as few irreparable steps as possible. Ensure controlled completion so that no structures are destroyed that will be needed later.”
Shredded
Bos will talk to Scala next Monday, and will take Bakkenes’ recommendation with him. “I think it’s a good comment,” says the alderman. Bos also reports that keeping Scala is not the only option.
New parties have also reported that could replace Scala. “There are other parties in Meppel who say: if Scala should fall over, we are prepared to commit ourselves to extracurricular cultural education,” says Bos. “Left or right, there will be cultural education in the municipality of Meppel for the inhabitants. I can tell you that.”
Rudi Kaldenberg is a piano teacher at Scala. He is looking forward to the meeting next Monday, where aldermen from the other municipalities will also join. Kaldenberg is not reassured that other parties have come forward to take over education. “After all, you don’t know what that party is going to do. Will they keep it in one central location like Scala is now in the municipality, or will it soon be fragmented?”
Enthusiastic
He would regret that shredding. “Students meet here, and that also ensures cross-pollination. Children become extra motivated as a result.” Another view is that cultural education will continue, but at the kitchen table of the teachers at home. “That used to be the case, when every teacher had a sign in the front yard. You shouldn’t want that anymore,” says Kaldenberg.
He also fears that the new party is a commercial provider with a different goal: to make a profit. “Now music education from Scala is affordable for all layers of the population. That can change if profit becomes the goal. Of course, children are still taught at primary school. and want to continue outside school, that may not be possible due to the high prices.”
20 million euros
The affordability of music education also concerns the local SP party. “Everyone in the municipality of Meppel should have access to music education, the thickness of your wallet should not matter,” says council member Esther Schut. “That automatically means that there is a role for the municipality here.”
“Meppel may soon invest 20 million euros in a theater,” adds Kaldenberg, who sees a fear image of a brand new theater without visitors. “Cultural education is important, it also fosters an interest in art. Otherwise, that theater will soon be there for nothing.”