Extra funding for arts despite crisis

A total of 278 organisations received a structural subsidy for general operational costs, representing 30 more than the previous subsidy period, with 45 newcomers counterbalanced by the loss of 15 groups – including the Handelsbeurs concert hall in Ghent and puppet-human hybrid group Theater Taptoe. This year saw a pop group receiving a subsidy for the very first time: Zita Swoon, led by Stef Camil Karlens, received €230,000.

The biggest winner in the latest round of subsidies is musical theatre, whose grants have gone up by a massive 79% - albeit from a low baseline. Musical van Vlaanderen gets €2.45 million for operations in Antwerp and Ghent, and Theater aan de Stroom in Antwerp, an actors’ collective dedicated to repertory theatre, receive its first-ever subsidy of €400,000. The newly formed Publiekstoneel, set up by entrepreneur Geert Allaert and theatre director Dirk Tanghe, which aims to bring popular theatre to a wider audience sought €2 million in support, but the advisory committee decided not to recommend any award.

Anciaux assured the sector, meanwhile, that the increased funds made available for pop music and musical theatre would not lead to cuts in the more classical theatre and music sectors. And indeed both sectors saw their total subsidies go up by €2.1 million in total.

For Anciaux, this is likely to be the last chance he gets to demonstrate such largesse. The regional elections take place on 7 June, and the minister recently left his Spirit party to join the socialist Sp.a. They, however, have not offered him a place on any list that would guarantee him a winnable seat. In the next Flemish government, someone else will be writing the cheques.

The business magazine Trends was scathing about the minister’s legacy after 10 years of culture management. The fact that the entire budget for culture has doubled over the past decade to €451 million was, the magazine said, “the only bright spot in the dark policy palette” of the minister. His policy on allowing the region first refusal on important works at risk of being exported could have deprived Flemish art of international attention, Trends said. And his time in office has too often been marked by blunders, such as the €60,000 given to promote the Eurovision chances of pop singer Kate Ryan in 2006, who failed to even make the final.

Arts subsidies in figures

364 requests for funding

278 successful applications

11 advisory committees

45 organisations subsidised for the first time

15 lose their subsidy

200 jobs created as a result, according to the culture minister

33% of theatre bills paid for artist wages

€2 million extra in indexation increase, not included in €10.5 million increase