Earlier it wrote Noordhollands Dagblad after research that Rick Engelkes had received 4.3 million euros in corona support for a performance about Willem van Oranje that had never been performed before. Which employees are paid from the corona support is a mystery. The theater in Delft where this show would take place has not (yet) been built and the environmental permit for it has not yet been completed. Recently, the VVD faction asked for clarification in the House of Representatives about this corona support.
Waterfront Entertainment now calls in a statement that this would have been unfairly paid out ‘completely out of the blue’. They refer to a statement from the Performing Arts Fund (FPK), which was drawn up on Thursday. In it, the FPK states that they rely on the information provided and that they assess it on the basis of ‘conditions and criteria that we have drawn up in advance’. They indicate that they have asked the applicant Waterfront additional ‘clarification questions’. “From the information available it was clear that ticket sales had not yet started. Based on the information provided, it has been decided to proceed with payment.”
Rick Engelkes, director of Waterfront, says that they are still ‘working hard’ to ‘lift the project off the ground’ and aim for a performance in the autumn of 2023. “We are very happy with the conditional award of the subsidy . For the definitive award, we must of course, as usual, meet all requirements, including the submission of a report of findings drawn up by an accountant within three months of receipt of the decision.” The corona support is on as late as Waterfront on Friday The Telegraph know, paid out on 25 May – and the report has to be handed in on 25 August. “This process is in full swing.”