The ailing Scala will no longer receive a subsidy from April. This has been decided by the municipalities in which the arts center is active. It would be irresponsible because of the poor financial situation of the organization. As a result, there is a chance that the current school year cannot be completed.
Scala has not been doing well for a long time. The extracurricular music, theater and culture lessons in Southwest Drenthe have been at risk for some time due to financial shortages. The goal was to finish the current school year and then stop completely. Another subsidy was received from the municipalities to get through the first three months of the year.
An evaluation would then follow to see if an extension of the subsidy would be possible. But the financial position deteriorated. As a result, the arts center cannot guarantee that the school year can still be completed if extra money were to come. A reason for the municipalities of Meppel, Hoogeveen, Westerveld, De Wolden and Steenwijkerland (Overijssel) not to provide the subsidy.
The news comes as a surprise to the Scala board. “This is a bit unexpected,” says board member Lies Rubingh. “We have been talking to each other for months about the situation around the arts center. Municipalities may of course choose not to extend the subsidy. After all, it is their money, but we would have liked to discuss how we can jointly handle this file in the best way. could have finished.”
The board member had hoped that the municipalities would consult with Scala about the choice not to grant the subsidy. “But that didn’t happen,” she continues. “Now a decision has been made very unilaterally. We regret that.”
Rubingh does not yet know what consequences this entails. “Of course we had hoped that we would receive a subsidy. Now we have to put our heads together to find out what this will mean for the rest of the school year.”
At the end of February, Scala asked for a deferment of payment. The court agreed to that. “That means that the stack of invoices that is now available can be put aside for the time being. You should think of housing costs, rent, subscriptions or energy bills,” explains lawyer Jilles Knotter. Teachers are paid their salary.
“As long as we are in that phase, the lessons will continue,” Rubingh adds. “But if we don’t come up with a solution to complete the school year, we may have to file for bankruptcy. Then it is very likely that the academic year cannot be completed.”