ROTTERDAM, 25 September 2024 – The Rotterdam municipal government has approved the 2025-2028 Culture Plan, which aims to enhance cultural outreach and spread artistic engagement across the city. This decision comes after extensive assessments by an advisory committee.
Rotterdam adopts new culture plan for 2025-2028
The Rotterdam municipal council has largely embraced the recommendations from the advisory committee’s report, titled “Verandering Verankerd” (Change Anchored), in the formation of its Culture Plan for 2025-2028. Councillor Said Kasmi, responsible for Education, Culture, and Events, commented on the goals set out in the framework: “In our policy document ‘Van onschatbare waarde; Uitgangspuntennota voor het Rotterdamse cultuurbeleid 2025-2028’, we committed to bringing art and culture to all Rotterdammers. This Culture Plan is the detailed implementation of that ambition.”
Between 1 December 2023 and 1 February 2024, cultural institutions were invited to submit funding applications under the new Culture Plan. A total of 140 organisations applied for grants, including 46 new applicants. An advisory committee, led by chairwoman Mei Li Vos, evaluated the proposals over several months. The final advisory report, titled “Verandering Verankerd”, was submitted to the city council in June 2024 following hearings with the applicants.
The Rotterdam Cultural Foundation
In addition to applications for the broader 2025-2028 Culture Plan, eight major cultural institutions that form the Rotterdamse Culturele Basis (Rotterdam Cultural Foundation, RCB) submitted multi-year funding requests. While the committee reviewed their proposals, no advice was given on the actual subsidy amounts.
Advisory guidelines
The advisory committee’s recommendations, as well as the council’s decisions, followed core principles established by the municipal council. These principles focused on maintaining continuity where possible and making necessary adjustments where required. Each application was assessed based on its artistic and cultural value to the city, as well as its adherence to key codes, including the Fair Practice Code, the Code of Diversity & Inclusion, and the Governance Code Culture. Operational quality and budget feasibility were also closely examined.
City council decision
The Rotterdam municipal government has adopted both the positive and negative recommendations of the advisory committee. However, in four instances, the council deviated from the advice to make necessary technical adjustments in favour of applicants. The council acknowledged the changes the committee sought to bring about and agreed that the proposed measures would foster a more inclusive and diverse cultural sector, with increased outreach across Rotterdam. The new plan also emphasises a broad understanding of culture that recognises its social value.
Expanding the cultural sector
Councillor Kasmi expressed his satisfaction with the adopted plan, stating: “By following this advice, we will see the expansion of the sector, increased reach and distribution of cultural activities, and the continuation of policies we are pleased with. Over the coming years, we will work alongside institutions to ensure a resilient and future-proof cultural sector that contributes to an inclusive and innovative city.”
Challenges in cultural transition
Despite the approval, the council recognises the challenges faced by the cultural sector. The number of institutions seeking financial support has steadily increased with each new cultural plan, while the total available budget has not grown proportionately. Councillor Kasmi acknowledged the difficulties this presents, stating: “We see this struggle not only in Rotterdam but also in other cities and at the national level. We need to move towards a more inclusive and resilient cultural sector, with room for research and development.”
In Rotterdam, a think tank has been established to provide advice, both solicited and unsolicited, on these challenges. In 2025, international experts from the IABx are expected to convene and deliver further advice to the municipal council on the cultural transition goals.
Key figures from the Culture Plan 2025-2028
The total annual budget for the Culture Plan 2025-2028 is set at €101.25 million, with €52.75 million allocated to the eight RCB institutions, including the Rotterdams Philharmonisch Orkest, Theater Rotterdam, and Museum Boijmans van Beuningen. In total, 107 cultural institutions, including the RCB, are included in the plan, with a total of 140 applying for support.
Newcomers to the plan account for 46 of the applications, collectively requesting nearly €8.4 million. Of these, 23 institutions are receiving support from the Culture Plan for the first time. Nine organisations that received subsidies under the current plan will no longer receive funding.
