Report Programmers' meeting #1: Cultural transition, transport and impact

With rolling mouths, we could welcome you 20 February to our second event of 2025! In a sold-out theatre foyer of the Rotterdam Library, Thys kicked off the evening with a look back and forward. The past made a special appearance- the 'Rise for the Night' demonstration was, in fact, exactly 6 years ago! 

Before starting the three break-out sessions, future prospects were briefly discussed with all attendees. Topics such as affordability, the ticket bank, and contact between programmers and venues came up.

We want to tailor our events to what the city cares about; so get in touch (here) with us to discuss your concerns or bliss!

Measuring impact in collaboration with Rotterdam Festivals

From 2025, cultural entrepreneurs in Rotterdam can use Rotterdam Festivals' Impact Dashboard. This will help you understand the impact of your event on visitors, the city and funders. 

During the programmer consultation, there was extensive discussion on measuring impact in the cultural sector. Various methods and tools for impact measurement were explained, including The Impact Dashboard, developed in cooperation with Cigarbox. The Impact Dashboard will be made available to Rotterdam entrepreneurs free of charge. The dashboard offers organisations insight into their audiences, event ratings and overarching analyses; each organisation will have its own environment in which they can collect and analyse data.

A second aspect of impact measurement that was discussed was The Cultural Targeting Model. An important aspect of impact measurement is capturing the value that cultural activities add to society. This can be evaluated during events through questionnaires, for example with QR codes. The data collected is essential in grant applications to the municipality, where the impact on specific target groups needs to be substantiated.

It also stressed that impact measurement should not only be seen as an administrative obligation, but also as a strategic tool to improve policy and programming. Festivals and other cultural events that disappear miss the opportunity to measure and prove their impact.

Finally, the advice given was to research topics that could really bring change and to contact Rotterdam Festivals to participate in the impact dashboard.

Cultural Transition i.c.w. Quartermaster Cultural Transition Heleen Ririassa

Maybe you once applied for a grant, maybe you then got that grant-but who decides? Where grants do or don't go?

Previously, Rotterdam's Arts & Culture Council (RRKC) gave solicited and unsolicited advice on Culture Plan funds - the multi-year subsidy scheme - but after tensions arose, alderman Said Kasmi has pulled the plug on the council since 1 January 2023. (Read about it here more details).

Briefly, the distribution of the Culture Plan budget went as follows: Rotterdam Municipality has an annual budget of almost 5 billion euros, of which, say, 4.39% goes to culture (highest percentage in the Netherlands yallah!). Some 81 million is available annually for the multi-year subsidy scheme Culture Plan. Some 52% of this goes to Rotterdam Cultural Base (RCB). However, about half of that 52% goes to bricks: real estate - and thus not to Culture programming.

But that might change now; the host of this session, Heleen Ririassa, is tasked as Cultural Transition quartermaster to think about how the Rotterdam cultural sector can/should be better and future-proofed.

This is by no means an easy task: there is much consternation over the distribution of the Culture Plan budget 2025 - 2029. The possible changes being discussed are as follows; there could be budgets for new categories such as: Cross-domain working; The Culture; and Night Culture.

The possibility of organising the accommodation of Rotterdam culture differently is also discussed. A newly discussed option is to house all housing activities in one, newly created company. This is modelled on the Sports Company that manages a large part of all Rotterdam sports facilities. For the cultural sector, such a company would the Culture Company could be called. This organisation separates real estate and programming. With the positive effect that it becomes a lot clearer what culture budget is actually spent on.

The big question under this conversation remains: how feasible is this transition? Is there enough support for it? And can this be organised?

Rotterdam Nightbus network i.c.w. Hossen Tours

Ever since 1974, the Rotterdam night bus network-better known as the Bobbus-was active in getting Rotterdammers home safely. However, since the corona crisis of 2020, the beloved night bus has left us, the RET has been struggling with staff shortages and, as a result, the night bus has not been running for years. But, this is about to change it to the men of Hossen Tours lies!

Tom and Robin themselves have always enjoyed using the Bobbus, and also experienced all the woes of missing it. During this programmers' meeting, they came to talk about the possible reintroduction of the night network, possibly by a private party like themselves.

The big questions are where and exactly how often those bus(es) should run then-preserved to the city centre? Including the surrounding municipality? With CS as the hub? A round south? A circle around M4H? With an eye on the old RET routes (look at them here), Hossen Tours could show an estimated quote, with a standard fare: perhaps an amount around €8?

Of course, there was much talk and speculation, but one thing appeared certain: The night network must (and will?) come back, to make the night more accessible, safe and vibrant! We will, of course, keep you updated on the progress in the Bobbus revival.

Then again

Thank you to the visitors, Rotterdam Festivals, Heleen Ririassa and Hossen Tours for your presence and commitment! Also big thanks to Library Rotterdam for your ever-warm hospitality. 

For the reader who was not there: come and visit too. To be there is to experience it! Check the calendar to see which events we are still organising in 2025. We hope to see you there!