the establishment is slowly begining to manifest itself in reaction to the barbaric fashion in which the new (and apparently popular) right-wing government in holland is tackling budget cuts in the arts, the protest even seems to be coming from outside the netherlands, shown above is an infographic made by mediamatic (themselves now also under threat) which aims to give some idea of the relativity of the financial footprint of the arts compared to say, state spending, defense, jet fighters or even the national food and drink consumption…
meanwhile an international group of concerned professionals in the arts field have prepared this response to the governments provocatively titled ‘more than quality’ memorandum, read and weep…
…to be clear: Dutch professionals in the field of art and culture are aware of the fact that some cuts in funding are necessary given today’s economic situation and that a recalibration of support may be called for. Furthermore the cuts in arts funding might seem of lesser importance in light of what is happening, with the same brutality, in the fields of healthcare, social reform, education, the media and scientific research, among others. However it is in solidarity with all these realms that we raise our voices in disagreement about the sweeping, overreaching, and devastating broad cuts proposed…
