Culture Committee decisions 21 September 2021
At its first autumn meeting, the newly formed Culture Committee decided, among other things, on supplementary appropriations granted to professional festivals and artists in Espoo.
Separate support to professional festivals in Espoo
The Culture Committee decided to grant separate support to the following festival organisers for 2021: April Jazz EUR 50,000, Espoo Ciné EUR 48,000 and PianoEspoo EUR 35,000. In addition to that, the Committee decided to grant EUR 52,000 in separate support for the costs of the Fidelio opera in 2021. However, the amount of support spent may not exceed the actual costs in 2021. The total amount of separate support granted to festivals and the opera production described above is EUR 185,000 to cover losses of income due to restrictions and special arrangements during the pandemic.
Supplementary appropriations to art and culture sector professionals and professional artists in Espoo
The City of Espoo’s Culture Committee decided to grant a maximum total of EUR 200,000 in additional discretionary support to art and culture sector professionals and professional artists in Espoo. This support is granted on a discretionary basis.
The 2022 Espoo Story policies, goals and budget proposal, and the 2023–2024 financial plan, Culture Committee
The Culture Committee decided to submit a proposal on the 2022 budget and the 2023–2024 financial plan for the mayor’s budget proposal preparations.
The Culture Committee decided to give its response to initiatives pertaining to economic affairs and to the proposals made by the Elderly Council and the Disability Council regarding the 2022 budget.
The Committee believes that remaining within the framework is important, but emphasises that covering the entire rental increase of Exhibition Centre WeeGee, which is significant, within the framework seems unreasonable, considering the shortage of culture caused by the pandemic. The Committee stated that the appropriation needed due to the increase in rent is EUR 300,000.
Furthermore, the Committee thinks it important that the availability and accessibility of library services (e.g. mobile services and branches offering limited services) be improved in areas where small local libraries will be closed. If the process of closing down the Soukka and Laajalahti libraries progresses, the Committee proposes that prior assessments be carried out on the local library services in these areas in terms of their impact on the residents, staff, services, environment and finances.
If the process of transferring Karatalo over to Tilapalvelut progresses, the Committee proposes that a prior assessment be carried out on its effects to the residents, services, staff, environment and finances.
Culture Committee interim review 2 on 2021 budget and strategy, as things stood on 31 July 2021
The Culture Committee took note of the interim budget and strategy review 2 of the Cultural Unit and, for its own part, that of the Education and Cultural Services.
Changing the use of rental assistance granted to Toy Museum Hevosenkenkä and the Finnish Museum of Horology and Jewellery for 2021
The Culture Committee decided to approve changes to how the rental assistance granted for 2021 will be used: A total of EUR 50,173 granted to Toy Museum Hevosenkenkä and EUR 37,706 to the Finnish Museum of Horology and Jewellery will be transferred to cover the operating costs of the new museum facilities at Kulttuurimajakka.
Cultural project grants and art scholarships for 2021, instalment 4
The Culture Committee decided to allocate a total of EUR 92,100 in project grants and EUR 39,200 in short-term art scholarships.
Other items
The Committee made decisions on the other items according to the agenda(external link, opens in a new window).