If more money does not become available quickly for Stichting Cultuurhuis Hoogeveen, the end is looming for theater De Tamboer and Het Podium. The foundation is short of hundreds of thousands of euros every year. “It’s make or break,” warns director Pieter-Bas Rebers.
In the coming years, Cultuurhuis Hoogeveen will face a budget gap of 350,000 euros, Rebers writes in an urgent letter to the municipality. “In particular, the incurred energy costs and additional personnel costs due to collective labor agreement obligations drive up fixed costs.”
The deficit for 2023 could still be paid from their own savings. But the piggy bank is running out and it will no longer be possible to close the financial gap before 2024. According to the director, this is partly because the municipality has cut back on subsidies.
“We have tried for years to solve everything ourselves,” Rebers writes: fewer people, cutting costs and trying to increase revenue. “But this is simply no longer sustainable for us.” And so he sounds a ‘great alarm’. He says that if the municipality of Hoogeveen does not provide more money, the foundation’s survival will be at risk. It will be over after the summer of 2025. According to Rebers, it is not because of the offer. “Never before have so many performances and concerts in the theater and pop stage been sold out.”
Stichting Cultuurhuis Hoogeveen wants to know what is possible in the short term. Otherwise, ’emergency scenarios will have to be set in motion’. “This includes canceling loss-making activities such as the children’s theater and social projects (City Programming).”
Stopping the renovation plans of pop venue Het Podium or not carrying out maintenance on buildings and installations are also on the table. Another option is not to fill the vacancy of programmer. “And then no more festival and theater programming at all from summer 2025,” Rebers is clear. “In all cases, this will ultimately lead to the closure of both our public locations and thus the permanent disappearance of the theater function in Hoogeveen and the music venue in Drenthe.”
Councilor Mark Tuit of the municipality of Hoogeveen is not surprised by the letter. “Because of the timing, because we have been discussing the financial position with the Cultuurhuis Hoogeveen Foundation since the summer. As a municipality, we also have a full picture of this.” The municipal council has also been informed about the situation.
Hoogeveen does not immediately plan to open the money tap. The municipality says it shares Rebers’ concerns and is hiring an agency that will conduct research to provide insight into how the foundation can become future-proof. “This agency will investigate how Stichting Cultuurhuis Hoogeveen can reduce its costs and increase income. As a municipality, we first need this information before we can take further steps.”
The results of the study are expected this fall.
