“We shouldn’t let too much fall over.” That said culture minister Ingrid van Engelshoven on Monday during a debate about the art and culture sector, which is in difficulty because of the corona crisis. “That’s what I stand for and that’s what I’m fighting for,” she emphasized.
Not everything, like other affected sectors, can be saved, she said. But that there should also be talk of culture in the cabinet when it comes to extra support measures, is “clear as hell”. According to the minister, we should not let the sector down the drain, that cannot be true.
It cannot be purely to compensate for lost turnover, according to Van Engelshoven, it is also necessary to look at other ways to cope with developments. Particularly because of the 1.5 meter measure, theaters do not yet have a good revenue model.
Broadloom, there were sounds on Monday to somehow accommodate the art world. Before the debate started, dozens of artists protested at the entrance of the House of Representatives. The demonstrators had laid out a runner, made of theater posters for canceled performances, in front of the Chamber Building on the Square.
Among the demonstrators were top actors Anne-Wil Blankers (79) and Hans Croiset (84), both still fully active. “I am not here for myself, because I have had a richly subsidized life. I am here for all those self-employed workers,” said Croiset. During the debate, Van Engelshoven said that in any case it should be achieved as soon as possible that self-employed persons can get back to work. “Is that going to offer comfort to everyone, no.”
There are general support packages for self-employed persons without employees, and according to the minister it is not possible to arrange additional allowances for specific groups. “There will also be a group that needs to retrain.” She does want to look at the contracts as they are used.
On Monday, parliament will also discuss the proposals from the Council for Culture for whom direct government subsidy must be granted in the next four years.
By: ANP | Photo: ANP
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