Podium34 in Borger can move forward again: the municipality of Borger-Odoorn has extended its ‘experimental period’ by a year until the summer of 2024. The stage will also receive a subsidy of 35,000 euros from the municipality. “We can move on. That’s fantastic.”
Podium34 of pop organization The Bake Shop from Emmen has been in the Willibrordkerk in Borger since last spring. Podium34 organizes workshops, (Drenthe) band sessions, concerts and club evenings for young people from 12 to 18 years old.
“The municipality had asked us to set up a position in the church as a talent developer and supervisor to reach young people in the municipality. That would be for a year, because the municipality did not yet have a clear idea of what they wanted to do with the church,” say Lisan van der Deijl and Evert Hoven of the organization. That is why it is an experimental period. “Now it has been extended for a year, because they still haven’t figured it out.”
As far as Podium34 is concerned, they will remain in place after the summer of 2024. “We do intend to continue with this for a longer period of time. We are also discussing this with the municipality and the province. The province also considers us a valuable place,” says Hoven. There is enthusiasm among the youth: “Things are going reasonably well now, as we expected. Building something like that takes time.”
Lack of space
Borger-Odoorn cannot secure Podium34’s use of the church for more than a year, because the municipality is experiencing a major shortage of space. “The schools lack space. It could be that the MFA in Borger becomes more for education and that, for example, the village hall moves to the church,” says councilor Ankie van Tongeren (CDA/Christian Union). The municipality has not yet decided on this.
This lack of space was not anticipated when the MFA was built in Borger. For example, the municipality actually expected a decline in the number of students and (expensive) vacancy in the mfa. “But we now have exactly the opposite,” said the councilor.
Van Tongeren is happy with Podium34: “We see that they are doing great things here. We need that.”
Jam sessions
Podium34 wants to add new activities in the coming year. For example, the stage wants to organize jam sessions in which (local) musicians will improvise with each other. “So it’s about playing non-existent work to improve skills,” says Van der Deijl. They also want to pay (even) more attention to inclusivity. “We are accessible to a wide audience, without restrictions.”