THE WEEK OF JAN. “A turbulent week” (Antwerp)
A turbulent week, that’s the least you can say about it. The city’s savings, which according to alderman of Finance Koen Kennis few Antwerp residents will feel, have not passed in silence.
Life has become more expensive, we all have. And that of course also for the city. Due to the automatic indexation of wage costs by 350 million euros between now and 2025. In the same period, the city will also have to cough up another 150 million euros to pay its energy costs.
Then you can’t help but put your expenses under a magnifying glass and look for new income. Even the most obedient of family men cannot escape this. The temperature in public buildings is lowered to 19 degrees, which brings in 5.5 million euros. The garbage bags, applying for parking prohibition signs and the use of urban sports infrastructure will become more expensive, good for an extra five million euros. The public lighting is also switched off at night, between 1 and 5 am.
Although it is mainly the Antwerp cultural sector that feels put in the dark. The project subsidies are not awarded for three years, the annual subsidies are not indexed. “A disgraceful style, a murder of a whole generation of young, artistic talents”, it sounds in the sector. Even if it is ‘only’ about 720,000 euros per year, the evaluated cultural Antwerp in the heart. That much is clear.
The project subsidies are a springboard for young artists to develop and take their first steps as an artist. It is they who feel abandoned. Art students don’t just leave it at that. They will protest next week and want to occupy the Antwerp city hall. The Antwerps Kunstenoverleg, a consultative body in which the Antwerp cultural organizations are represented, feels that it has been passed over and asks for a consultation with authorized aldermen Nabillia Ait Daoud (N-VA). she lay in The last news say that she thinks the cultural sector is exaggerating and points to the investments that the city is making: 684 this legislator.”
Yet the sector is screaming murder and brand, because it unsettles the cause from below. Moreover, it is the umpteenth blow to culture, after, among other things, the corona crisis. And that is not without consequences. HetPaleis has already indicated that it will cancel projects and more will follow.
Even from coalition partner Vooruit there is open criticism of the decision. President Tatjana Scheck lists the cuts as ‘dramatic’, ‘very wrong’ and asks for them to be reversed. Striking, important party members who approved well.
Curious about that criticism of the November city council when the budget is on the agenda. Are we heading for a Greek drama of an Antwerp comedy? The doors open at 7.30 pm. Tickets available at www.hetpolitictheater.be.