Although the threatened complete axing of
ORF musikprotokoll at steirischer herbst has not occurred, a ORF cutting its present share by almost 50% is planned. This reduction of the budget implies a substantial weakening of this platform which is so important for the Austrian and international music scene.
The consequence is that commissioned works and concerts will have to be considerably reduced, and this reduction of the programme will mean that it will no longer be possible to obtain the present amount of EU funding, which will worsen the precarious situation of the music festival even more.
This budget cutback by the co-production partner ORF is very regrettable and incomprehensible to us, given the fact that, with relatively little commitment, this has given ORF the unique opportunity to do justice to its political-cultural mission to produce new art, as codified in the ORF Act.
We can only regard this as a one-off saving in an exceptional year and hope that ORF, as the organiser of the festival, will not only leave its budgeted support at the present level but, on the contrary, will even increase it in future.
What is more, a multi-year agreement is needed to allow the festival to plan ahead on a reliable basis, which is necessary so as to be able to commission works from composers and musicians. The aim is to allow ORF musikprotokoll to continue its work – even boosted by this crisis – as an incredibly important platform and to act as a springboard for many international careers in new music.
More than 4000 people have signed the petition launched here in June 2013 to protest against these false economies. Almost 800 statements from national and international figures from art and culture, but also politics and all spheres of society attest to the importance of ORF musikprotokoll as an essential vehicle of culture for this country.
We would like to thank all those who have lent their support to this cause and continue to hope for the necessary enhancement of the status of ORF musikprotokoll by its organiser, ORF.
45 years of musikprotokoll – a cultural mission for ORF?
As part of ORF’s cost-cutting measures announced in mid-June 2013 it became known that it is also planned to axe ORF musikprotokoll at steirischer herbst. musikprotokoll, founded in 1968, is held by Österreichischer Rundfunk every year. It is a co-production of the two programmes Radio Österreich 1 and Radio Steiermark, in which the works performed are broadcast, in co-operation with the steirischer herbst festival, subsidised by the European Union.
The festival is dedicated to contemporary, experimental music and intermedia forms of playing and showcases their current artistic trends and outstanding exponents. Integrating Austrian positions into international contexts runs like a red thread through the forty-five-year history of the festival – ORF musikprotokoll is therefore a springboard and important platform for many young and highly renowned artist figures alike – both internationally and throughout Austria.
Abandoning ORF musikprotokoll would mean the end of an important driving force of the Austrian and international New Music scene.
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