UTVrijhof CultureNews archiveInformation on combatting the corona crisis and consequences for Culture, Events and the Booking Office

Information on combatting the corona crisis and consequences for Culture, Events and the Booking Office

On Tuesday 31 March, the Cabinet extended existing measures in tackling the corona virus. The Vrijhof building will remain closed until 28 April.

These rather unreal times bring a dynamic with them that is new to everyone. This requires a lot from all of us, which is noticeable every day throughout the Netherlands. UT tries to deal with this as carefully as possible. Subsequently we, the Student Union and Culture and Events (Vrijhof), implement UT’s decisions, which affect you as tenants/users/cultural associations. After 3 weeks of closure, here is an update on that state of affairs:

 Vrijhof will remain closed at least through 28 April (update: 1 June is the new date, following UT’s decision to close buildings until 1 June)

  • Events and cultural activities (shows, repetitions, expositions, courses etc.) cannot take place until 1 June. Associations and other tenants will not be asked to pay rent during this period.
  • The national strategy has been redefined by the cabinet on Monday 6 April. Until 28 April, this will have consequences for all cultural activities and events on Campus. This period may be extended. We will hear more on this topic by 21 April at the latest.
  • We request ALL cultural associations: if you have already made a decision about cancelling shows or events after 1 June, please inform Joke Sanchez, co-ordinator of cultural education.

Good news: Online Culture!
Now things have gone quiet in and around Vrijhof, employees of Vrijhof Cultuur do their best to offer culture online. Varying from pub quizzes and improvised comedy to ballet lessons and opera: you can find it all on our social media! 

Memberships: questions and financial consequences
What are the financial consequences for my cultural subscription or my association? Are we as an association or am I as an individual entitled to compensation from Culture and/or UT? These are questions that we are receiving at this time from associations and individuals. 

Everyone in culture is affected by the measures: people taking courses, associations and unions, not to mention our theatre café. Our main aim is to solve this together, with our partners in the Cultural Sector, the Student Union, Vrijhof Culture and the associations. 

The financial department advises us to continue collecting subscription and contribution fees. An initial impact analysis on the financial consequences of the situation with the corona virus is currently being carried out by UT. The Cultural Sector is also looking into this internally. An update on this will follow later on; this will partly depend on the total period of closure of our cultural facilities. 

Contribution and paid subscriptions (UC/CC/courses)
As the Cultural Sector, we take the view that we bear the costs we make together as much as possible.

For this reason, we advise associations to consult with their own members and, for the time being, to continue collecting membership fees 'as usual'. All parties will continue to have their regular or even higher expenses. Current subscriptions will not be not refunded. If this crisis continues beyond April, we will look at how we will proceed with this. The Student Union will consult with Apollo, Vrijhof Culture and the associations to discuss whether this will then still be the right choice. 

Finally
Culture connects people! UT and the Cultural Sector aim to stimulate the connection with and between people, especially now. It is a challenge, but we will do it! If you have any ideas, please get in touch with Tineke Grootenboer, co-ordinator of performing arts and publicity. 

We wish you all the best in these special times and above all good health, the basis of everything!