Apologies for cross-posting....
Begin forwarded message: >> From: Jonathan Reus >> Date: 24. Juni 2011 03:25:31 GMT+03:00 >> To: Undisclosed recipients:; >> Subject: Re: The new vision for Dutch media arts >> >> Dear friends and colleagues, >> I apologize for the mass-emailing, this is quite important. You may have >> heard already about the new cultural plan for the Netherlands being pushed >> through by the current government, a minority coalition of market liberals >> and conservatives backed by Geert Wilders' anti-immigration freedom party. >> >> While all federal programs in the Netherlands are taking hit, none are being >> hit so hard, so disproportionately, and so directly as the arts and culture >> sector. Particularly disastrous will be the cuts within the arts and >> technology sector. All new media art institutions in the Netherlands will be >> completely defunded, this includes STEIM, V2, the Waag, and other institutes >> with long histories and international reputations. These labs provide local >> and international artists space and support to perform, exhibit, and develop >> the cutting edge new art forms of our times. Their loss will be devastating >> to the Netherlands' cultural scene and deeply felt throughout the >> international media arts world. >> >> The funding cuts will go into effect in 2013. The government has ignored the >> advice of the arts council, who suggested a phased-in solution which would >> give artists and organizations time to react and formulate new plans. This >> move illustrates the underlying motives of the politicians: not for a >> restructuring of support for the arts, but rather a direct attack against >> the culture of art that has prevailed for so long in the Netherlands. The >> cuts are, in effect, a cultural coup d'etat. >> >> So, what can you do? The unfortunate answer is, not very much. The >> politicians are implementing this new vision of Dutch culture with a >> vengeance, and will probably approve the cuts during the vote on Monday. The >> best thing to do is spread awareness of the situation, both in the >> Netherlands and abroad through your networks. >> >> There are also two petitions being circulated prior to the Parliament vote >> this Monday. Please sign them and share. >> http://petities.nl/petitie/bezuinigen-op-cultuur-zonder-alle-feiten-nooit >> (general petition, goal: 40,000 signatures by Monday) >> http://www.change.org/petitions/save-dutch-media-art-orgs-govt-plans-to-slash-them-all >> (specifically to support Media Arts organizations) >> >> If you live in the Netherlands there's more you can do to help. There is a >> large protest being organized during the vote on Monday. According to >> lobbyists close to the government in the Hague, a large presence here could >> slow down the legislation and give arts organizations more time to develop >> alternative plans for survival. >> >> More information on the protests can be found here: >> http://www.marsderbeschaving.nl/ >> http://www.marsderbeschaving.nl/index_en.php (English) >> >> More information about the funding cuts, particularly for art and technology >> institutions: >> http://2010.sonicacts.com/live_reports/news/dutch-new-media-arts-organization-about-to-lose-all-funding-what-you-can-do/ >> http://www.mediamatic.net/page/219535/en >> >> Thank you and please share! >> Best always, >> Jon >> >> ---------------==========::::::::::::::::::::::::::::------------- >> Jonathan Reus >> Project Manager / Workshops >> @ STEIM, Amsterdam >> www.steim.org >> ...---=======::::::::::--------...__~---==========----- >>
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