The Oosterpoort is bursting with life and culture. It is the home base of the North Netherlands Orchestra, it serves as a stage for dazzling pop shows and Eurosonic Noorderslag takes place there every year. In Groningen we believe that strong cultural facilities are indispensable: culture gives people the opportunity to develop, relax and meet each other. To guarantee this, a new music center is essential, because it offers opportunities for the further development of Groningen as the cultural municipality of the North, where we attach great importance to culture.
And it is precisely such a new music center that can strengthen Groningen’s cultural sector. It is a link in the stage chain that broadens the range and serves as a supplement to existing stages such as Vera and Simplon. A large pop venue gives Groningen the opportunity to offer major pop concerts. A classical hall offers a worthy place for our northern top orchestra. Moreover, it offers more room for experiment and talent development. This way we have a worthy balance between the demand for space and spectacle and the supply of talent that Groningen has to offer.
When you talk about culture, you also talk about encounters. A new center would radiate this on all sides. It’s more than just getting together for a concert. It goes beyond music. A new music center, located in the centrally located Spoorkwartier, would serve as a lively and dynamic city entrance. The location therefore provides a nice combination and meetings between visitors from outside and residents of the surrounding neighborhoods. Moreover, the possibilities for collaborations with educational institutions can be expanded, making it a breeding ground for new talent and innovation. Also a nice bonus (but no less important): the new building can be made energy neutral, which fits in with the sustainability ambitions of this green municipality.
In short, a new music center will stand for everything we want in Groningen in the context of culture. It is not only a necessary step to meet the growing cultural needs of this growing city, but also an opportunity to realize the ambitions we have in the municipality in the context of education, meeting and sustainability. A new music center offers the necessary flexibility, availability and capacity to achieve this in one building. The convergence of culture, education and both residents and visitors makes it a perfect environment for meeting and cross-pollination: from early in the morning to late at night.
Sophie Middelhuis
Tags: music
