Festspela in Bergen received around 2.8 million annually from the state cultural pot, which was called the gift enhancement scheme. – Now 10% of the budget is gone. Money that went directly to musicians and artists in the free field. It is dramatic, says the festival director. The gift enhancement scheme Private gifts to Norwegian cultural actors triggered a government gift enhancement of up to 25% of the gift sum. Was introduced by Culture Minister Torhild Widvey in 2014 to stimulate increased private funding of museums. The scheme was expanded in 2015 to apply to several cultural actors. The scheme applies to gifts of at least NOK 100,000 and up to NOK 1 million. In 2021, the scheme had a framework of close to NOK 140 million, and the funds were mainly financed by the gambling surplus in Norsk Tipping AS earmarked for cultural purposes. More than 400 received money from this pot in 2021. For many cultural actors, this sum constituted a significant part of their income. The red-green government, led by Anette Trettebergstuen, discontinued the scheme in January 2022. They said the scheme had a skewed geographical distribution, and promised to replace it with a fairer scheme. CULTURE CUT: Festival director Lars Petter Hagen is afraid the cut will lead to fewer concerts during the festival. Photo: Marit Hommedal / NTB Close to NOK 140 million was distributed to over 400 cultural organizations and institutions through the gift reinforcement scheme in 2021. Many were worried when the red-green decided to remove the scheme from January 2022. For more than ten cultural actors news has spoken to, the cessation of the scheme has had significant consequences for the economy. Promise cultural promotion The government did not want private gifts to control the community’s funds, and therefore removed the scheme. In addition, it had had an odd geographical distribution, they said. In the election campaign, the red-green promised a fairer distribution of this pot, but it was still supposed to go to culture. They promised a cultural boost. When asked directly in August 2021 to future Culture Minister Anette Trettebergstuen if there was cause for concern for those who had used the scheme, she replied to Aftenposten: – Many of those who accept gift reinforcement will be better off in a government led by us. We will find solutions for those who have become dependent on that support, said Trettebergstuen. A round of calls news has made shows the opposite. Example of previous recipients of the gift reinforcement scheme Barratt-Due Music Institute – received 655,000 in 2021 Bjørnson Festival – received 250,000 in 2021 Festspillene i Bergen – received 4 million in 2021 Geitmyra’s food culture centers – received 1.7 million in 2021 KÅKÅ Kverulant Cathedral – received 537,500 in 2021 Marispelet ved Rjukanfossen – got 235,500 in 2021 Norwegian Literary Festival – got 600,000 in 2021 Norwegian Writers’ Center – got 64,000 in 2021 Olavsfestdagene – got 218,750 in 2021 Hospital clowns – got 2.5 million in 2021 – Must deal with this quickly The Foundation Litteraturhuset, which takes place in Oslo, conveys a love of reading to 9,000 kindergarten children and 18,000 schoolchildren, who come for a physical visit each year. In addition, they have digital programs that reach several hundred thousand. WAITING: The day-to-day manager of Stiftelsen Litteraturhuset, Susanne Kaluza, is calling for adequate funds from the state. Photo: Knut Brendhagen / news The Literature House had more than NOK 2.5 million in income through the gift enhancement scheme in 2021. Now the Literature House and daily manager Susanne Kaluza are waiting for funds at the same level as before the change of government. – We hope the very positive words will be followed by funds and foresight, which we depend on, says Kaluza. The foundation received a lump sum of 1.5 million over the state budget this year, which Kaluza is happy about. But that is not enough. – A desire to read is important, so we want the new minister to address this quickly, says Kaluza. BROADCAST READING: The Litteraturhuset foundation, which is based in Oslo, receives visits from close to 30,000 kindergarten and school children every year. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB / NTB – Broader investment throughout the country The government says they have distributed the money differently, but that the pot still goes to cultural purposes. – It is not about coming up with new schemes to replace the gift enhancement scheme, but about using the money differently, says State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture Even Aleksander Hagen (Ap). – Can you give some examples of what they prioritize giving money to? FOR CULTURAL PURPOSES: State Secretary in the Ministry of Culture Even Aleksander Hagen (Ap) believes the pot is now reaching wider. Photo: Jan Kenneth Bråten / news – Among the things that have been strengthened are the cultural school bag, preventing dropouts from bands and choirs, free fund funds and investment in youth and leisure. According to the state secretary, there were many challenges with the gift enhancement scheme, where the money largely still goes up in the biggest cities. – We want to reallocate the money from the big players who have benefited from the scheme to a wider investment in culture in the whole country, says Hagen. In Bergen, it is the extraordinary events that are the festival’s identity, but they are becoming more and more difficult to carry out, according to the festival director. – In the first instance, there will be fewer concerts, fewer tickets to sell, which in turn leads to fewer sponsors, says festival director in Bergen, Lars Petter Hagen.
ttn-69
Has lost several millions in income – news Culture and entertainment
