Sixty artistic directors from around the world have rounded on junior culture minister Halbe Zijlstra. His extensive cutbacks are going to do ‘irreparable damage’ to the arts sector says their representative Mark Ball in a letter.

‘The international arts world has reacted with shock at the severity of the proposed budget cuts for arts and culture announced by the junior minister. We think that these cuts will have a disastrous effect on the arts sector and its reputation.
The Dutch arts sector has long stood for European excellence. The performing arts are a good example, thanks to the innovative and creative work of independent artists and small production companies. They will be hit hardest by the cutbacks.
The Dutch system of support for independent artists and production companies is unique in the world. Their work has had an important and positive influence on Dutch society and has been enjoyed in theatres and other cultural locations around the world.
The cutbacks – €200m a year – will do irreparable damage to this dynamic, independent and innovative sector. It constitutes cultural vandalism and will do untold harm to Dutch cultural life and affect a large number of artists and their public, in the Netherlands and abroad.
The plans are short sighted. The Netherlands has secured a thriving arts sector with an international reputation for excellence, innovation and tolerance on a relatively small budget. That is something to be proud of.
Dutch theatre and dance companies will bear the brunt of the cutbacks. The budget for theatre productions will be cut by more than half while dance companies will be left with no more than 60 percent of theirs. That will cripple the performing arts for years to come.
The government thinks a quick solution is for market forces and private donations to fill the holes left by the cuts. It isn’t. A system in which private donations play an important part takes generations to develop and must be supported by tax benefits.
We understand that cutbacks are necessary and that the arts cannot be exempt. But the scale of these measures will kill off any attempt at innovation and do permanent damage to the Dutch arts sector. The consequences will also affect the European arts as a whole.
We, the undersigned call on junior minister Halbe Zijlstra and parliament to reconsider the amount and the allocation of these cuts. Don’t throw away a unique cultural infrastructure. The innovative and creative Dutch climate depends on it.’
Yours sincerely, Mark Ball, London international festival of Theatre
This is an unofficial translation