Quirijn van den Hoogen

New local cultural policy evaluation methods in the Netherlands: status and perspectives

Efforts to improve local public policy-making in the Netherlands have led to two changes in local government. First, a budgeting system that focuses political debate on the outcomes of policies rather than on their costs was implemented as of 2004. Second, as of 2006, municipalities have been obliged to install a local Audit Committee (rekenkamercommissie). The committees examine the efficacy and efficiency of municipal policies. Several of these committees have devoted research to cultural policy. In this article, I present the manner in which this budgeting system and the institution of Audit Committees have impacted the evaluation of local cultural policies in the Netherlands. Furthermore, I discuss the way practices relate to key dilemmas concerning evidence-based cultural policy.Efforts to improve local public policy-making in the Netherlands have led to two changes in local government. First, a budgeting system that focuses political debate on the outcomes of policies rather than on their costs was implemented as of 2004. Second, as of 2006, municipalities have been obliged to install a local Audit Committee (rekenkamercommissie). The committees examine the efficacy and efficiency of municipal policies. Several of these committees have devoted research to cultural policy. In this article, I present the manner in which this budgeting system and the institution of Audit Committees have impacted the evaluation of local cultural policies in the Netherlands. Furthermore, I discuss the way practices relate to key dilemmas concerning evidence-based cultural policy.

The creative industries: conflict or collaboration? An analysis of the perspectives from which policymakers, art organizations and creative organizations in the creative industries are acting

This paper compares and contrasts the instruments and values formulated in the creative industries policies of three peripheral municipalities of between 150,000 and 220,000 inhabitants in the Netherlands (Groningen, Arnhem and Eindhoven) with the needs of the creative industries itself. The needs of the creative industries have been empirically researched by conducting an online survey (n = 556) and twelve in-depth interviews with professionals from different types of organizations in the creative industries. In this study, the theoretical framework of Boltanski, Thévenot and Chiapello is used in the analysis of policy documents, the outcomes of the online survey, and the in-depth interviews in order to uncover differences and similarities in perspectives from which art organizations, creative organizations and policymakers are acting in the creative industries.

Values in crowdfunding in the Netherlands

Abstract Internet-based crowdfunding through websites such as Kickstarter seems to have become a familiar funding arrangement in the cultural and creative sectors. In the Netherlands, cultural politics have looked to this form of private funding as a possible means of re-establishing the connection between the arts and society. This raises the question of whether greater reliance on crowdfunding means different value orientations for arts institutions. This paper presents the outcomes of empirical research on crowdfunding in the Netherlands via the Voordekunst website. This not-for-profit website collaborates with several private and public art funds, providing the largest platform for ‘project makers’ and donors in the arts in the Netherlands. The value orientation of Dutch crowdfunders is researched, using the value sociology of Boltanski and Thévenot.Internet-based crowdfunding through websites such as Kickstarter seems to have become a familiar funding arrangement in the cultural and creative sectors. In the Netherlands, cultural politics have...