International network
for contemporary
performing arts

Réseau international
pour les arts du spectacle
contemporains

Rete internazionale
per le arti performative
contemporanee

コンテンポラリー
パフォーミングアーツ
国際ネットワーク

Internationales Netzwerk
für zeitgenössische
darstellende Künste

Международная сеть современного 
исполнительского 
искусства

Red internacional
para las artes escénicas
contemporáneas

Internationaal netwerk
voor hedendaagse
podiumkunsten

თანამედროვე საშემსრულებლო
ხელოვნების
საერთაშორისო ქსელი

Rede internacional
para as artes performativas
contemporâneas

الشبكة الدولية
لفنون الأداء
المعاصرة

Alþjóðlegt
tengslanet
í sviðslistum

Xarxa internacional
d'arts escèniques
contemporànies

Rhwydwaith rhyngwladol
ar gyfer celfyddydau
perfformio cyfoes

Rrjeti ndërkombëtar
për artet skenike
kontemporane

Διεθνές δίκτυο
για σύγχρονες
παραστατικές τέχνες

Međunarodna mreža 
za savremene 
scenske umjetnosti

Mezinárodní síť 
pro současné 
divadelní umění

International netværk
for kontemporær
scenekunst

Internasionale netwerk
vir kontemporêre
uitvoerende kunste

თანამედროვე საშემსრულებლო
ხელოვნების
საერთაშორისო ქსელი

Nemzetközi hálózat
a kortárs
előadóművészetért

國際當代表演藝術網絡

líonra idirnáisiúnta
na taibhealaíona
comhaimseartha

Starptautiskais tīkls
laikmetīgai
skatuves mākslai

Netwerk internazzjonali
għall-arti performattivi
kontemporanji

Międzynarodowa sieć
na rzecz współczesnych sztuk
performatywnych

Internationellt nätverk
för samtida
scenkonst

Međunarodna mreža
savremenih izvođačkih
umetnosti

Международна мрежа
за съвременни
сценични изкуства

Rrjet ndërkombëtar
për arte skenike
bashkëkohore

Міжнародная сетка
сучасных
перфарматыўных мастацтваў

Međunarodna mreža
za suvremene
izvedbene umjetnosti

国际当代表演艺术网络

Rahvusvaheline
kaasaegsete etenduskunstide
võrgustik

현대 공연 예술을 위한 국제 네트워크

Tarptautinis tinklas
šiuolaikinis
scenos menai

Интернационална мрежа
за современа
изведувачка уметност

شبکۀ بین المللی
برای هنرهای نمایشی معاصر

Rețeaua internațională
pentru artele spectacolului
contemporan

Medzinárodná sieť
pre súčasné
scénické umenie

Çağdaş
gösteri sanatları için
uluslararası iletişim ağı

Culture budget cuts in Flanders: what is happening and what can you do

WHAT WAS DECIDED

On 8 November, the Flemish government has published their plans to make substantial savings on subsidies for the arts from 2020 onwards. The proposed cuts are as follows:

  • Subsidies for organisations that receive an operational grant will be decreased by 6%.
  • Subsidies for Flemish arts institutions will be decreased by 3%. 
  • Subsidies for projects and scholarships will be decreased by 60%. That means the budget will fall from 8,466,000 € this year to 3,392,000 € in 2020. 

By forcing savings on such short notice, the Flemish government saves and pursues new policies at the same time. As a result, it is not meeting its current commitments. It has these commitments with regard to institutions, organisations and projects. 

At no point leading to the decision, the arts sector was consulted by the governing parties N-VA, Open VLD and CD&V.

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

The proposed cuts leave a weakened sector behind that has been confronted with savings up to 25 million euros for a continuous period of 10 years. Disruptive consequences for inflow, collaborations, efficiency, employment and, ultimately, the public are to be expected. Given the late decision by the government and the short time span of six weeks before the proposal goes into effect, many organisations will have to face red numbers in 2020.

The Flemish government and Flemish minister of Culture (also MP of the Flemish government) Jan Jambon defended the proposed cuts, stating that cuts are proposed everywhere. But not everyone saves the same amount, which is painfully clear by the 60% cut on project subsidies. The whole Flemish art fields opposes that proposal. Project grants give artists the opportunity to enter and to innovate. The budget for projects already didn’t meet the amount and high quality of the applicants. Instead of cutting in subsidies for projects and grants, the budget should increase to an amount that makes up 15% of the resources for operating grants and arts institutions.

PROTESTS

Immediately after the announcement, everywhere in Flanders protests started leading to big press coverage. Sector federations and advocacy organisations like Overleg Kunstenorganisaties (oKo), SOTA, trade unions, Muziekoverleg, VVC, BoekenOverleg, De Federatie and OCE made public statements. Creators, organisations and artists start their performances, exhibitions and concerts with a short statements about the savings and end by making a picture of their audiences, which they share on social media using the hashtag #thisisourculture. Open letters have been sent and published in major news media. Protests were held outside the Flemish parliament and in front of the cabinet of the MP.

Those protests have not yet led to a concession by the government.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Sign the petition: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/community_petitions/M-P_Jan_Jambon_Investeer_meer_in_kunst_en_cultuur_niet_minder/?wIlmgpb