Contributions from the Canton of Bern to jazz and music schools
For 2017 to 2020, the Government Council of the Canton of Bern is applying to the Grand Council for state contributions of CHF 470,000 per year for the Swiss Jazz School Bern. For 2016, it approved CHF 17.31 million in contributions to the music schools.
The Swiss Jazz School is a specialized music school for particularly talented students, writes the canton. It is therefore a link between the basic jazz training provided by regional music schools and the jazz department of the University of the Arts BUA as well as comparable courses at other music universities.
The state contributions are approved for four years at a time so that the school can draw up medium-term financial planning. The service contract is concluded for the same duration.
For 2016, the cantonal government has approved cantonal contributions of CHF 17.31 million to the 29 general music schools recognized by the canton of Bern. As part of cost-cutting measures, the cantonal government had reduced and capped the contributions to music schools set out in the financial plan by CHF 500,000 from 2013. The cantonal government is lifting this cap again for 2016. According to the press release, the canton's financial situation no longer justifies this measure. The planning security of the music schools should be given higher priority.
