Lodewijk Muns

Culture killing (2)

The Dutch government is cutting its culture budget by negating its co-responsibility for a large number of institutions. These same institutions had previously been given national responsibility, and have been doing their jobs for years and decades with government support.

This is not merely an emergency measure, inspired by the financial crisis. It is part of a larger vision – a vision created by the Secretary of State for culture, well known for his proud ignorance of the field he is turning over.

This Secretary of State has decided to take the U.S. as the new ideal. Of course, the booming cultural life among the Burger Kings is the envy of the world. As geographical and political entities both countries are quite similar. That cultural policy itself is part of our cultural tradition we’d better not think about.

This decision to change the cultural landscape for decades to come was not made in parliament. It was debated and voted for in two sessions by a small committee on June 27 and 30. The most scary thing about this operation is the little noise it makes.

Cuts have their own costs, but that's an issue too complex for the axe wielding Secretary of State. The net result is dubious at best, if we count the hours spent in finding solutions for the collections and activities at risk. Hosts of cultural workers have to stop doing what they’re good at and throw themselves into competition, all repeating the same semi-commercial tricks for the same meagre prizes. No doubt 'consultancy' will flourish, and lots of money will be made out of the shady science of how to make money. This is typical of the wastefulness of capitalism.

Patronage (‘mecenate’) is proposed as the future pillar of culture. The phenomenon has arisen and typically flourishes in totalitarian societies, where there is a clustering of financial and political power. It depends on the rich getting richer. This is the course set for the next decades.

Lodewijk Muns composer, author, pianist