Oorkaan back in basic infrastructure (BIS) after more than 10 years

Oorkaan is back in the Basic Infrastructure (BIS) after more than 10 years and we are extremely proud of that! The Council for Culture has written a beautiful advice. A few quotes: 

"In the 2021 - 2024 grant period, Oorkaan has fulfilled its ambitions to form its own ensemble and in doing so has experienced strong artistic development. The joy of playing sparkled from it. .... The theatricality makes the music less sacred, increasing its expressiveness to young audiences. The council also appreciates the high quality of the Oorkaan Ensemble and the choice of an unusual instrumentation. .... Oorkaan brings music to a young audience in an accessible way and succeeds very well in doing so. This demonstrates its main social significance. ... Oorkaan is in demand internationally and thus also functions as an ambassador for Dutch youth music."  Read the entire opinion here.

We want to sincerely thank all those who made our success possible - including musicians, ensembles, orchestras, creators, trainers, designers, technicians, team and board members, partner institutions, concertgoers, our Children's Council, concert halls, theaters, festivals, patrons and funds - for their commitment and support. Thanks to you we have been able to create so much beauty and continue our mission: to enrich as many small and large ears as possible with the infinite world of music.  

We look forward to the future of Oorkaan and the Oorkaan Ensemble, but we are deeply affected by the fact that a number of partner institutions have been hit hard. Therefore, we support the action #don't drop the cloth of the NAPK.  

We are also very concerned about the advice of the Fund for Cultural Participation, which leaves out almost all institutions that develop musical talent, including Princess Christine Competition, Dutch Violin Competition, National Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands, Ricciotti Ensemble and National Choirs. This not only creates a gap in the chain from music school to conservatory and stage, but also affects "every child who dreams of a life full of music" (Lonneke van Straalen, violinist and founder Pynarello).