Antwerp art sector resists cuts: “Get that money elsewhere, but not from our children” (Antwerp)
“By saving on the new generation, you are taking away our last bit of future prospects.” That gloomy message together with art students on the Suikerrui on Monday afternoon. The protest was addressed to Cultuur Nabilla Ait Daoud, who wants to save ships of 720,000 euros in project subsidies for young artists every year for three years. Well-known and seasoned cultural figures such as Tom Lanoye, Els Dottermans and Jan Decleir also joined the protest.
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Despite the drizzly weather, dozens of art students and other art-lovers were at the Suikerrui to listen to the various speeches at the City Hall, near the place where alderman Ait Daoud has her office.
“In times of crisis after crisis after crisis, this is yet another sting for the Antwerp cultural sector”, one of the young students addressed the crowd. “What remains is an impoverished urban cultural landscape. To develop an internationally recognized image as a hub of art, creativity and innovation, this is a hard thing to recover. The city cuts into tomorrow’s heritage. In times of hopelessness, art is the last domain in which we can imagine an alternative future.”
Els Dottermans also took the floor, on behalf of the actors’ guild. “It feels sour to have to beg and beg every time to survive,” said the actress. “I would like to! don’t touch our children. Get that money elsewhere, but not from our children.”
“Project subsidies are the breeding ground for future talent, the much-needed humus layer for our young plants,” says Dottermans. “If we don’t work in our youth football, we won’t have Kevin De Bruyne or Eden Hazard. If you turn off the project subsidies for the next three years, we will soon have nothing to play on our beautiful Bourla, Het Paleis, Monty or Zomers Antwerpen. to play.”
Theater icon Jan Decleir also took up the microphone. “Mrs. Nabilla Ait Daoud, there are only naughty children today,” he said. “There are problems in the streets of the city with those young people, it is said. Don’t miss a chance. You have allies with this group of people here.”
READ ALSO. Jan Decleir supports protest against Antwerp culture cuts: “Reverse your plans and we won’t talk about it anymore”