Subsidies cut for two Brussels theatres

Two of Brussels' best-known theatres – Théâtre Royal du Parc and the Royal Flemish Theatre, KVS - will see their funds cut by 15% this year - representing a combined loss of about €300,000.

"Making budget cuts now, when the year is under way, is astonishing," said KVS director Michael De Cock. "It’s a big surprise and a minor disaster. After all, the whole of next season until June 2026 has already been planned.

“We can’t cancel events that have already been scheduled. The contracts have been signed. People have to make a living from that.

"For our part, we’re going to try at all costs not to make any staff redundant. But what’s certain is that in the end, when all the calculations have been made, it’s always the artists who lose out,” he said, adding it was too early to say, but “there would be changes” decided in the autumn.

As it stands, theatres will have to dip into their reserves, said Brussels mayor Philippe Close: “We’re not asking them to interrupt their season three months before it closes. But we do want them to draw on these reserves because we have almost none left.

“These are always extremely difficult choices,” the mayor said, arguing: “We are probably still one of the municipalities that invests most in culture.

“Not many institutions have as many cultural centres or theatres to manage. But everyone has to make an effort, including our theatres. We have also had to make efforts in education, sport and staffing. At the moment, public services are under pressure.”

But cuts are not the answer, De Cock added, especially in this difficult period: “I understand we’re going through some very complicated times, but I think the signal is wrong, especially now, with the world being so turbulent.

“In my opinion, we need to invest more, not less, in culture, and the same goes for education. We need to find projects that bring us together, where people can come together, where they can unite.

“We live in a world where we talk more and more about war and investing in the army, in things that are ‘hyper macho’ and strong.

"Maybe this sounds really stupid, but I think it’s time to invest in poetry, to invest in unity, to invest in the city as a human community," De Cock said, adding: “I hope we can discuss this with the local authorities.”

While the city hopes it will be able to give out these subsidies again next year, nothing is less certain, warns Close: “We hope we will be able to return to a better situation. We’re working on that right now. But at this stage, I can’t predict anything for 2026, which I think will also be a difficult year.”