Basel's orchestra funding takes shape
On the recommendation of an international jury of experts, the government council of the Canton of Basel-Stadt has for the first time awarded contributions from the orchestra program funding. Four out of eight applications were approved.
The Cantonal Department of Culture has developed a concept for a new orchestra funding policy, which came into force with the decision of the Grand Council on December 16, 2015. It now provides for multi-year program funding for professional Basel orchestras and larger instrumental ensembles as well as structural funding. CHF 5,576,000 is available for this purpose for the years 2016 to 2019. The year 2016 will be used as a bridging year and the existing state contributions totaling CHF 1,094,000 will be extended by one year.
For the 2017-2019 funding period, the following orchestras and instrumental ensembles will receive a multi-year grant totaling CHF 4,035,000 from the Orchestra programme funding:
- Basel Chamber Orchestra: 520,000 francs p.a. (total amount 1,560,000 francs)
- Basel Sinfonietta: CHF 360,000 p.a. (total amount CHF 1,080,000)
- La Cetra Baroque Orchestra: 290,000 francs p.a. (total amount 870,000 francs)
- Ensemble Phoenix: 150,000 francs p.a. (total amount 450,000 francs)
- Camerata Variabile: 25,000 francs impulse funding p.a. (total amount 75,000 francs)
The jury consisted of Valerio Benz (SRF2 Kultur), Michael Breugst (WDR 3), Christine Lemke-Matwey (DIE ZEIT), Roman Brotbeck, Björn Gottstein (Artistic Director of the Donaueschinger Musiktage), Regula Rapp (Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart) and Alexander Steinbeis (Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin), as well as ex officio representatives of the authorities Caroline Specht and Philippe Bischof.
