La Petite Bande , Sigiswald Kuijken's baroque orchestra, is being threatened in its existence from 2010 on!
The 'independent' commission that has to advise and 'assist' the Flemish culture minister Bert Anciaux in his decisions concerning the government-subsidies for 2010-2013 , has delivered an extremely negative and biassed pre-advise about La Petite Bande; in fact their recommendation is to strongly diminish ( even stop) the subsidies for LPB at all . Strange fact, if you realize that Sigiswald Kuijken has been honoured on February 2nd with the highest Cultural Award of the Flemish Government ... !
If you want to raise your voice in this context, please go to www.savelapetitebande.com and participate in the petition , as I did ...
http://www.savelapetitebande.com/
Peter
Done. :)
Ditto. :)
THANKS!
We only need a few hundred more reactions! :)
Don't forget, Ton Koopman & his Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra are more or less in the same situation (or even worse?).
First they were cut off from their subventions, and lately some sponsors decided to quit, too. Results so far: six people fired, and already a few concerts cancelled.
Quote from: pjme on February 06, 2009, 04:50:58 AM
La Petite Bande , Sigiswald Kuijken's baroque orchestra, is being threatened in its existence from 2010 on!
The 'independent' commission that has to advise and 'assist' the Flemish culture minister Bert Anciaux in his decisions concerning the government-subsidies for 2010-2013 , has delivered an extremely negative and biassed pre-advise about La Petite Bande; in fact their recommendation is to strongly diminish ( even stop) the subsidies for LPB at all . Strange fact, if you realize that Sigiswald Kuijken has been honoured on February 2nd with the highest Cultural Award of the Flemish Government ... !
Peter
Good lord - what idiocy >:(. Have signed.
I did it!
Damn the man!
Quote from: pjme on February 06, 2009, 04:50:58 AM
La Petite Bande , Sigiswald Kuijken's baroque orchestra, is being threatened in its existence from 2010 on!
The 'independent' commission that has to advise and 'assist' the Flemish culture minister Bert Anciaux in his decisions concerning the government-subsidies for 2010-2013 , has delivered an extremely negative and biassed pre-advise about La Petite Bande; in fact their recommendation is to strongly diminish ( even stop) the subsidies for LPB at all . Strange fact, if you realize that Sigiswald Kuijken has been honoured on February 2nd with the highest Cultural Award of the Flemish Government ... !
If you want to raise your voice in this context, please go to www.savelapetitebande.com and participate in the petition , as I did ...
http://www.savelapetitebande.com/
Peter
I just did my part signing the petition. It is a shame to let an ensemble like this to go under.
Sometimes I offer my nonsense to other forums, too. ;D
To make up for that, I posted some more appeals here & there to support Kuijken's Band. Hope it helps.
Done.
I was just this morning listening to another wonderful volume of their Bach cantatas.
Done.
Their Haydn under Kuijken was a revelation for me.
Thankyou all very much! I'll keep you posted. Next week Kuijken will be interviewed on Belgian Radio.
Peter
You'll be pleased to know threads like this in support of Le petite bande are popping up on other classical music forums and garnering lots of positive support - check out this post (http://www.brightcecilia.com/forum/showpost.php?p=14185&postcount=26).
I did my bit for the group this morning. 0:)
FK
Voor Nederlands, zie hieronder.
Pour la version française, voir ci-dessous.
Dear Friends who signed the petition "Save La Petite Bande",
A very warm thank to all of you who have signed our petition! Thanks to your support, La Petite Bande has been able to mention in its defence of mid-February to the Commission the 15.000 protest votes at that moment, from more than 100 countries. A selection of your personal comments has been added to this document.
The Minister will take his final decision on the subventions in the coming weeks. We would like to keep you informed about this decision and its consequences for the future of La Petite Bande. Because of the very strict legislation on privacy, this mail is the only one we can send to you all.
Therefore : if you want to know what the Minister will decide and what consequences it will bear on the future of La Petite Bande, please subscribe here to be informed by Sigiswald himself about the result of our petition.
It's our only way to keep you informed.
The petition will stay on line in the coming weeks; the number of signatories has now reached 20.000! And more signatures are welcomed! Maybe still some more of your friends might like to sign?
As a sign of special thanks, Sigiswald Kuijken sends you this personal message :
"Your support and sympathy have moved me deeply. It shows clearly the invaluable need for music and the arts which surpass daily life. Musica Medicina Dolorum! Our world needs this healing power"
It will be a pleasure for us to continue to inform you on the developments in the near future.
With warm regards,
Esther Visser, initiator of the petition
& Sigiswald Kuijken
Beste vrienden ondertekenaars van "Save La Petite Bande",
Héél hartelijk bedankt voor het ondertekenen van onze petitie! Dankzij uw steun kon La Petite Bande in februari bij haar verweerschrift melding maken van - op dat moment - 15.000 protest-stemmen uit meer dan 100 verschillende landen. Ook werd een selectie van uw persoonlijke commentaren bijgevoegd.
De Minister beslist in de komende weken over de verdeling van de subsidies. We willen u graag op de hoogte brengen van dit besluit en de gevolgen hiervan voor de toekomst van La Petite Bande. Wegens de strenge privacy-wetgeving is dit echter de enige e-mail die wij aan u allen mogen sturen.
Daarom: Als u wenst te vernemen wat de minister besluit en wat de gevolgen hiervan zullen zijn voor de toekomst van La Petite Bande, gelieve dan hier in te tekenen om geïnformeerd te worden door Sigiswald Kuijken zelf over het resultaat van onze petitie.
Alleen op deze manier kunnen wij u op de hoogte houden.
De petitie loopt nog door in de komende weken, het aantal ondertekenaars is inmiddels opgelopen tot 20.000 en meer handtekeningen zijn nog steeds zeer welkom - misschien hebt u nog meer vrienden die willen ondertekenen?
Om u bijzonder te danken stuurt Sigiswald Kuijken u deze persoonlijke boodschap:
"Uw steun en sympathie hebben mij deugd gedaan; zij tonen immers duidelijk hoe diep de nood is aan muziek en kunst die de alledaagsheid overstijgt. In deze overtuiging voel ik mij met u verbonden. Musica Medicina Dolorum! Onze wereld heeft deze helende kracht nodig."
Het zal ons een genoegen zijn om u te blijven informeren over de ontwikkelingen in de nabije toekomst.
Hartelijke groet,
Esther Visser, initiatiefneemster van de petitie
& Sigiswald Kuijken
Chers amis-signataires de "Save La Petite Bande",
Un tout grand merci pour votre signature à notre pétition ! Grâce à votre support, La Petite Bande a pu mentionner dans sa défense du mois de février un total de 15.000 protestataires venant de plus de 100 pays. Une sélection de vos commentaires a également été jointe.
Le Ministre décidera de la répartition des subventions dans les semaines prochaines. Nous aimerions vous tenir au courant de cette décision et des conséquences pour le futur de La Petite Bande. A cause de la législation très stricte sur la vie privée, ce mail est le seul message que nous puissions envoyer à vous tous!
Donc, si vous voulez connaÎtre la décision du Ministre et quelles en seront les conséquences pour La Petite Bande, veuillez vous inscrire ici pour que Sigiswald Kuijken puisse vous informer personnellement du résultat de la pétition.
C'est uniquement par cette voie que nous pourrons vous tenir au courant des derniers développements.
Pendant les semaines qui suivent, la pétition restera en ligne ; le nombre des signataires a déjà atteint les 20.000 et de nouvelles signatures restent très bienvenues. Peut-être connaissez-vous encore des amis qui aimeraient aussi la signer ?
Sigiswald Kuijken tient à vous faire part de sa reconnaissance en vous envoyant ce message personnel :
"Votre support et votre sympathie m'ont fait beaucoup de bien. Ils démontrent clairement la nécessité profonde d'une musique et d'un art qui dépasse le quotidien. Dans cette conviction, je me sens lié à vous. Musica Medicina Dolorum ! Notre monde a besoin de cette force apaisante"
Avec nos meilleures salutations,
Esther Visser, initiatrice de la pétition
& Sigiswald Kuijken
Information about the 'final results':
Last week the Belgian government decided to support La Petite Bande, against the advice of the cultural committee.
:)
Quote from: Marc on May 01, 2009, 12:07:35 AM
Information about the 'final results':
Last week the Belgian government decided to support La Petite Bande, against the advice of the cultural committee.
:)
Hoorah!!
Quote from: Brian on May 01, 2009, 07:37:21 AM
Hoorah!!
Hasn't the National Endowment for the Arts here in the US been under the long knife or perhaps meat axe?
Quote from: Marc on May 01, 2009, 12:07:35 AM
Information about the 'final results':
Last week the Belgian government decided to support La Petite Bande, against the advice of the cultural committee.
:)
What is the purpose of the cultural committee of Belgium? To harm or support culture? ???
Quote from: 71 dB on May 03, 2009, 01:10:38 AM
What is the purpose of the cultural committee of Belgium? To harm or support culture? ???
The government only has a certain amount of money to divide. In times of economical recession the availability of public money for culture is rapidly decreasing. That's why choices have to be made.
This means that it's possible that right now f.i. a young and enthousiastic theatre group has to bleed for this decision in favour of Kuijken cum suis.
Quote from: Marc on May 03, 2009, 01:20:18 AM
The government only has a certain amount of money to divide. In times of economical recession the availability of public money for culture is rapidly decreasing. That's why choices have to be made.
This means that it's possible that right now f.i. a young and enthousiastic theatre group has to bleed for this decision in favour of Kuijken cum suis.
When do governments realise that cultural funding must be
regulated with buffer funds? Money should be saved in these buffers when it's the good times and use when it's bad times like today. Culture needs steady funding because it's about persistence and the fruits come from longterm dedicated work. Fluctuating the funding based on economical changes is idiotic.
Quote from: 71 dB on May 03, 2009, 01:44:04 AM
When do governments realise that cultural funding must be regulated with buffer funds? Money should be saved in these buffers when it's the good times and use when it's bad times like today. Culture needs steady funding because it's about persistence and the fruits come from longterm dedicated work. Fluctuating the funding based on economical changes is idiotic.
Governments exist of politicians.
Politicians want to gain votes to get more influence and power.
Unfortunately most people aren't interested in culture. They think that
public money for culture is synonym with
wasted public money. The same goes f.i. for development aid.
Unfortunately most people aren't interested in longterm dedications, either. They want to have their goodies right now.
Consequently items like culture, development aid, longterm and durable planning are no big issues during the elections.
The issues of the day are reigning. And I'm afraid this way of thinking/voting/governing has gained ground during the last decades.
Quote from: Marc on May 03, 2009, 02:10:28 AM
Unfortunately most people aren't interested in culture. They think that public money for culture is synonym with wasted public money. The same goes f.i. for development aid.
For many Eurovision song contest is culture. That's why we have cultural committees defending the real culture.
Quote from: Marc on May 03, 2009, 02:10:28 AMUnfortunately most people aren't interested in longterm dedications, either. They want to have their goodies right now.
All we need is the dedication of la Petite bande and regulated steady funding of culture. That's really all we need.
Quote from: 71 dB on May 03, 2009, 02:57:33 AM
For many Eurovision song contest is culture. That's why we have cultural committees defending the real culture.
All we need is the dedication of la Petite bande and regulated steady funding of culture. That's really all we need.
No disagreement here.
But the majority will decide.
That's why cultural committees will remain the toys of governments.
If I would ask at work:
Have any of you ever heard of La Petite Bande?the answer (probably by all of them) would be:
"No."
But they are a famous classical music baroque ensemble!"So what? We don't care. You want to hear the latest ringtone of Lady GaGa?"
Quote from: Marc on May 03, 2009, 03:18:14 AM
No disagreement here.
But the majority will decide.
Fortunately this is not always true. If majority decided, we wouldn't have opera houses, classical music concerts and definitely not la Petite Bande.
Quote from: Marc on May 03, 2009, 03:18:14 AMThat's why cultural committees will remain the toys of governments.
Toys?
Quote from: Marc on May 03, 2009, 03:18:14 AMIf I would ask at work:
Have any of you ever heard of La Petite Bande?
the answer (probably by all of them) would be:
"No."
But they are a famous classical music baroque ensemble!
"So what? We don't care. You want to hear the latest ringtone of Lady GaGa?"
Who the hell is Lady GaGa? ??? Btw, I don't think I have ever heard la Petite Bande. :P
Quote from: 71 dB on May 03, 2009, 01:44:04 AM
When do governments realise that cultural funding must be regulated with buffer funds? Money should be saved in these buffers when it's the good times and use when it's bad times like today. Culture needs steady funding because it's about persistence and the fruits come from longterm dedicated work. Fluctuating the funding based on economical changes is idiotic.
In my opinion, the Europeans need to put some regulations on many of the trashy entertainments from the US in order to preserve their collective cultural heritage. I am 100% behind the French for at least doing its part ...
Quote from: 71 dB on May 03, 2009, 04:42:27 AM
Fortunately this is not always true. If majority decided, we wouldn't have opera houses, classical music concerts and definitely not la Petite Bande.
Yes. True. But there's a lot of private money in there.
Quote from: 71 dB
Toys?
Yes. They are at the mercy of political arbitrariness.
Like thread starter pjme said, they're only
so-called 'independent'. Most members of those committees have little idea of culture, and are related to several boards of government.
I'm very very happy with the decision of the Belgian government, but I'm sure that, at first, the 'independent' committee were very very happy with their advice and also were pretty sure that the government would accept it.
After the world-wide attention and support, the government finally decided to make a political decision to prevent the country from being a laughing stock.
Quote from: 71 dB
Who the hell is Lady GaGa? ??? Btw, I don't think I have ever heard la Petite Bande. :P
To what hell are you referring?
:-\
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_GaGa
http://www.lapetitebande.be/
Again, the Belgian government has received a negative advice about subsidizing La Petite Bande and again the ensemble is threatened.
If you don't agree with this, plz raise your voice and sign this petition:
http://www.savelapetitebande.be/
Done.
Also done, and urge all of you to take 30 seconds to do the same.
Thanks,
Gurn 8)
Done!
Thank you. Saving La Petite Bande is saving Europe.
done
Done
Trying to follow the link in the first post (savelapetitebande.com) but it takes me to a page headed "Choosing a Miami Pharmacy for your Needs". If this is just me then I shall start to worry...
DF
Quote from: DaveF on June 09, 2012, 01:15:11 PM
Trying to follow the link in the first post (savelapetitebande.com) but it takes me to a page headed "Choosing a Miami Pharmacy for your Needs". If this is just me then I shall start to worry...
DF
It's not just you. :) The .com domain name is no longer valid, as they have changed to .be.
Just did my part. Lets hope for the best ...
From the petition site:
Dear Visitor : The funding of La Petite Bande from the government has been withdrawn. A message from Sigiswald Kuijken:
"I'm baffled by this decision. I believe that our cause was well defended and we gave it the dignity it deserved. Furthermore, I find no words for that decision, and do not understand the position of the committee . We will now see how we take it from here."
25-6-12
That's a shame... Maybe a classical kickstarter is in the works?
Strange that the political movements so keen on defending European culture against "foreign" influences usually also are the groups most eager to stop supporting European culture...........
Quote from: The new erato on June 26, 2012, 01:55:22 PM
Strange that the political movements so keen on defending European culture against "foreign" influences usually also are the groups most eager to stop supporting European culture...........
I voted with my feet when the French wanted to ban or to limit the trashy entertainments from Hollywood from the French soil ...
I think the ensemble should start raising funds from private sources ...