2007-10-25
The cultural funding system in the Netherlands
A short introduction about fundraising possibilities in the Dutch performing arts
Cultural policy in the Netherlands is covered by statute law. The Cultural Policy Act (Special Purpose Funding) makes the central government (The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science) responsible for creating the conditions to maintain, develop and disseminate culture and lays down a practical methodology for the government to employ.
A famous Dutch maxim propounded in 1862 by the liberal Prime Minister Thorbecke that, The government is not a judge of science or art, established the precedent to keep state officials from expressing any opinion on the content of the arts and sciences or deciding what direction they should take. Over 150 years later this principle is still in effect as can be seen by the contemporary governments practice of leaving judgments on the content of art and culture to outside advisory bodies.
There has always been broad consensus that government support for culture is legitimate, based on the desirability of a general cultural climate in which individual freedom of expression, in the broadest sense, is paramount.
Another subject on which there is broad fundamental agreement is diversity: the fight for pluralism has produced a high degree of tolerance in Dutch society and widespread interest in a broad range of cultural patterns.
The third important point is that cultural policy is based on the quality principle The fourth and final principle of Dutch cultural policy is the governments resolve to avoid issues of cultural politics, a principle which involves certain paradoxes. The government has to be selective if it is to fulfill its civilizing role, but at the same time it must not, and does not want to, make value judgments. To avoid this dilemma The Ministry delegates the business of selection to an advisory board: The minister asks for expert advice before making a decision, the so called Raad voor Cultuur. (Based on quotes from Cultural Policy in the Netherlands)
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) supports arts organizations on a 4 year basis. The Ministry is advised by the Raad voor Cultuur (council for culture), who advises on general art policies, artistic quality, and the budget of the art organizations. The cabinet (and parliament) makes final decisions on all recommendations, However in practice, the advice is almost always taken where content and quality are concerned. The cabinet doesnt decide on artistic quality, but they can deviate from the advice on administrative, financial and policy recomendations. Project funding is delegated to seperate funds for venues, companies, visual arts etc. The Project Funds are supported by the Ministry on advice of the Raad voor Cultuur.
The Ministry collaborates closely with local and regional governments in so called covenants, which are four year agreemens on how the different governments support the regularly funded arts. All advice on art applications come from peer committees on th national as well as the regional level. The final decision is always made by government officials and politicians. The system is currently under review. The Raad voor Cultuur has recently changed and now has a general council that is mostly concerned with general policies and priorities, and several committees of experts that advise on the regular funding. Further changes are to be expected. One of the changes will be that most of the organizations who now receive funding from the ministry will have to apply to the project funds for their support. Those funds will then differentiate in funding. They will be able to give project funding, as well as 1, 2 or 3 years funding. Concerns that arise from this change are the lack of a national overview and lack of continuity for a lot of the now regularly funded organizations.
Details: http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/netherlands.php
A famous Dutch maxim propounded in 1862 by the liberal Prime Minister Thorbecke that, The government is not a judge of science or art, established the precedent to keep state officials from expressing any opinion on the content of the arts and sciences or deciding what direction they should take. Over 150 years later this principle is still in effect as can be seen by the contemporary governments practice of leaving judgments on the content of art and culture to outside advisory bodies.
There has always been broad consensus that government support for culture is legitimate, based on the desirability of a general cultural climate in which individual freedom of expression, in the broadest sense, is paramount.
Another subject on which there is broad fundamental agreement is diversity: the fight for pluralism has produced a high degree of tolerance in Dutch society and widespread interest in a broad range of cultural patterns.
The third important point is that cultural policy is based on the quality principle The fourth and final principle of Dutch cultural policy is the governments resolve to avoid issues of cultural politics, a principle which involves certain paradoxes. The government has to be selective if it is to fulfill its civilizing role, but at the same time it must not, and does not want to, make value judgments. To avoid this dilemma The Ministry delegates the business of selection to an advisory board: The minister asks for expert advice before making a decision, the so called Raad voor Cultuur. (Based on quotes from Cultural Policy in the Netherlands)
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) supports arts organizations on a 4 year basis. The Ministry is advised by the Raad voor Cultuur (council for culture), who advises on general art policies, artistic quality, and the budget of the art organizations. The cabinet (and parliament) makes final decisions on all recommendations, However in practice, the advice is almost always taken where content and quality are concerned. The cabinet doesnt decide on artistic quality, but they can deviate from the advice on administrative, financial and policy recomendations. Project funding is delegated to seperate funds for venues, companies, visual arts etc. The Project Funds are supported by the Ministry on advice of the Raad voor Cultuur.
The Ministry collaborates closely with local and regional governments in so called covenants, which are four year agreemens on how the different governments support the regularly funded arts. All advice on art applications come from peer committees on th national as well as the regional level. The final decision is always made by government officials and politicians. The system is currently under review. The Raad voor Cultuur has recently changed and now has a general council that is mostly concerned with general policies and priorities, and several committees of experts that advise on the regular funding. Further changes are to be expected. One of the changes will be that most of the organizations who now receive funding from the ministry will have to apply to the project funds for their support. Those funds will then differentiate in funding. They will be able to give project funding, as well as 1, 2 or 3 years funding. Concerns that arise from this change are the lack of a national overview and lack of continuity for a lot of the now regularly funded organizations.
Details: http://www.culturalpolicies.net/web/netherlands.php
An article by Sabine Preuss, ERICArts
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