Councilor Touria Meliani – Arts and Culture
Touria Meliani – Policy Arts and Culture Amsterdam
Art is indispensable for our city. It touches, moves and offers new insights. Ever since I became an alderman for this important portfolio, I have emphasised the importance of this and have striven to make art and culture accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live. This remains a priority for me and for us as a board. That is why we are increasing the budget for the Arts Plan 2025-2028 by an incidental 12 million euros.
Despite these investments, the challenges remain great. The recent advice from the Council for Culture and the decisions of the National Cultural Funds underline the urgent need for further support. I therefore call on the new cabinet to take its responsibility. Reconsider the planned measures such as the VAT increase, the abolition of the gift deduction for culture and the higher contribution to charities. We need solutions that strengthen the cultural sector.
Art and culture are not only important for the personal development of our residents, but also for the social cohesion and economic vitality of our society. It is time for the government to recognise the crucial role of arts and culture and offer this sector the support it deserves.
Since May 2018, Touria Meliani (GroenLinks) has been an alderman of Amsterdam, with Art and Culture, Events, and Inclusion and Anti-discrimination policy in her portfolio since the 2022-2026 council period.
> amsterdam.nl/wethouder/touria-meliani
News
In a discussion about events policy: from criticism of festivals in parks to fear of being transcribed
Mar 26, 2024 – There were more than 350 registrations – including people on a waiting list – but in the end only about 70 Amsterdammers showed up in the Zuiderkerk last night to discuss a new events policy. Councilor Touria Meliani (Culture and Events) wants the range of events and festivals to better meet the needs of all Amsterdam residents. There should also be more space for smaller festivals.
> at5.nl/in-discussie-over-evenementenbeleid-van-kritiek-op-festivals-in-parken-tot-angst-voor-vertrutting
New breeding ground policy: from now on in Amsterdam it is all about collaboration
Mar 15, 2024 – More money, more attention for local artists and less strict assessment of the end result. With new policy, councilor Touria Meliani wants to strengthen the position of incubators and creative people in Amsterdam.
> parool.nl/amsterdam/nieuw-broedplaatsenbeleid
Cultural institutions about the Meliani Arts Plan: ‘Our sector will become impoverished in the near future’
Oct 18, 2023 – Amsterdam cultural institutions and the Arts Council fear the impoverishment of the arts and culture sector due to the plans that cultural councilor Touria Meliani presented last week. According to them, the council’s ambitions cannot be reconciled with a constant culture budget.
> parool.nl/culturele-instellingen-over-kunstenplan-meliani
Councilor Meliani: spread culture more across the city
May 17, 2023 – Cultural councilor Touria Meliani wants to spread art and culture more across the city and focus more on new talent. This is evident from the new Arts Plan that was presented this afternoon.
The municipality invests 152 million euros annually in art and culture. Moreover, the cultural sector in Amsterdam accounts for about ten percent of employment. Yet the council sees that the sector is under pressure after the corona crisis due to high inflation, the energy crisis and the tight labor market. In addition to the budget for the Arts Plan, the municipality is therefore also allocating 5.3 million euros over the next two years to strengthen the sector.
> at5.nl/amsterdam-trekt-miljoenen-uit-voor-cultuursector