Cabinet wants to restore culture with hundreds of millions of euros

The cultural sector has had a hard time during the corona crisis and needs to be helped. State Secretary Uslu of Culture writes this to the House of Representatives. “Without culture, life becomes meager, dull and pale.” Today she will explain how the cabinet spends the extra money promised in the coalition agreement. This year it is about 135 million euros and after that it will be 170 million annually.

The money will go to start-up subsidies for new productions in the performing arts (20 million euros). “This stimulates employment for makers, technicians and set builders,” says Uslu. For the same reason, 15 million in cheap loans will be made available to cultural entrepreneurs.

4400 graduates

More than 12 million goes to Dutch drama, documentary and animation series and 10 million euros is for starting artists and other makers who have missed their first steps – the first exhibition, a first concert – due to corona. Uslu points out that this is a large group. “Approximately 4400 creative professionals graduate each year within higher professional education art education.”

The government also wants to encourage the return of visitors. “The behavior of the public is not back to the old way,” writes Uslu, who thus a major concern of the sector addresses. “Not everyone feels safe enough to go to a concert or museum again.” The State Secretary is allocating 4 million euros for public campaigns.

Impact on young people

Because young people have had to miss a lot in recent years, Uslu is also investing in that, she writes. “The corona crisis has had a lot of impact on young people: socially, economically and mentally. I therefore want to give this group extra attention.”

With about 20 million euros, the State Secretary wants to enthuse young people for culture. The money will include rehearsal rooms for bands, creative breeding grounds and a culture budget for secondary vocational education students.

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