The VVD in Coevorden is committed to establishing a music school in the town hall of Coevorden. A motion to that effect did not make it on Tuesday evening: no other party supported the plan.
VVD council member Lucie ter Waarbeek called the lack of a central place for music education ‘a huge loss’. ,,It would be a great pity if children from Coevorden are not given the opportunity to develop musically, while that is possible elsewhere. We begrudge our children in Coevorden certain opportunities.”
When the new Hof van Coevorden town hall was completed in 2011, Coevorden reserved a considerable part of the space for Center for the Arts CQ. In addition, the counter functions of the municipality are located in the complex on the Markt. The council chamber is also suitable for theatre.
CC bankrupt
But CQ went bankrupt in 2014. De Nieuwe Veste used the freed-up space for years, just like other parties as a dance school. But they are all gone, so that a new interpretation has to be found for the so-called Cultuurhuis.
The music school that Coevorden has recently opened is divided over several school buildings. The VVD sees the Cultuurhuis as a nice central place for music education, which can also ‘give an impulse to the cultural sector in the city centre’. The VVD wants Coevorden to rent out the space under attractive conditions. ,,That it is profitable for the institutions to give lessons”, Ter Waarbeek clarified.
Sympathetic
Fractions called the proposal sympathetic, but at the same time also saw snags. The PAC feared that Coevorden would become a carte blanche if there are no clear financial conditions. CDA and BBC2014 pointed to the music lessons at the various schools. These take place immediately after school, convenient for parents. The VVD acknowledged this, but at the same time pointed to practical problems. Music teachers can be deployed more efficiently in a central location. ,,The director of the music school also wanted to start in the Cultuurhuis last year, but she was told ‘no”, said Ter Waarbeek.
Alderman Steven Stegen (BBC2014) also called the plan sympathetic, but advised the council to wait for the culture memorandum. It should be ready by summer. He does want to think about temporary rental.
Too much
De Nieuwe Veste recently made a call to add 500 square meters to the new building near the train station, for cultural lessons. The mayor and aldermen agree and presented a proposal. This was too much for the majority in the council: an additional 1.7 million euros would then have to be added to the already considerable construction amount of 36 million euros.
The school will therefore be allowed to use the Cultuurhuis again from 2026, said Stegen. The municipality therefore cannot simply dispose of the space.