Ernst and Bobbie start cultural season with loan €100,000 from cabinet

With the Culture Startup Loan, the cultural and creative sector can invest again

The new cultural season starts this month. The cultural sector has been hit hard with a 62 percent loss of revenue, according to reports from NU.nl. Due to the loss of income, many organizations are on the verge of collapse. In order to start again and invest in production and program, the government has made 30 million euros available for Culture Start-up Loans. The loan is provided through Cultuur+Ondernemen and is especially meant for parties that run mainly on their own income and do not receive any subsidy. On Sunday, September 13, Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven (Education, Culture and Science) paid a visit to youth theater makers Ernst and Bobbie who were the first to receive a loan of 100,000 euros.

Ernst and Bobbie know what to do

Erik van Trommel and Gert-Jan van den Ende have a healthy business with their theater production company Trend Media, but are in dire straits due to the outbreak of the corona crisis. Searching for solutions is necessary to generate income again. “Previously we organized the first coronaproof drive-in theater in the Netherlands in Breda for thousands of visitors. Another solution was provided by the government: a loan with very favorable conditions to start new theater productions.” Trend Media has invested this money in the new theater offerings that will start this month.

“For cultural and creative organizations that do not receive a subsidy and depend on audience turnover and catering revenue, this is an extra tough time. No visitors now means no income of their own. With the Culture Start-up Loan, we want to help precisely these organizations get back on their feet,” said Minister Ingrid van Engelshoven.

The corona crisis is hitting the cultural sector hard. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, production in the culture and recreation sector fell by 37.4% in the second quarter, compared to a Dutch economic contraction (GDP) of 8.5%. Cultural and creative organizations often cannot turn to banks for a loan, knows Titia Haaxma, director of Cultuur+Ondernemen. “We do offer that possibility.” The Culture Start-up Loan amounts to €10,000 to a maximum of €500,000 per application and two loans can be granted per organization. The loan has favorable conditions such as 1 percent interest and is open to all disciplines. “As far as we are concerned it is Ernst, Bobbie and now the rest”.

Culture Startup Loan

In May of this year, the cabinet made €300 million available for the cultural and creative sector. Part of this support package is €30 million for the Culture Opstart Loan through Cultuur+Ondernemen. The loan is intended for cultural and creative organizations that generate at least 50 percent of their own income, such as Trendmedia. With the loan, organizations can invest in productions, programs, projects and products.

Currently over 80 parties have shown interest in the Culture Startup Loan. The size of the interest is almost € 12 million. It is therefore still possible for cultural and creative organizations to apply for the loan. This can be done until December 31, 2020 via Cultuur+Ondernemen. More information on the Culture Opstart Loan and the conditions can be found on the website www.cultuur-ondernemen.nl/cultuuropstartlening

About Cultuur+Ondernemen

Cultuur+Ondernemen is the knowledge platform for entrepreneurship in the cultural and creative sector. Cultuur+Ondernemen supports and advises artists, creatives and cultural and creative organizations on entrepreneurship, financing and good governance. Through the Fonds Cultuur+Financiering, Cultuur+Ondernemen has been offering loans and guarantees for the cultural and creative sector for many years.