Radical budget cuts threaten the Stormen concert hall in Bodø

We live in turbulent times. In Germany, crisis messages are part of everyday life. I wouldn't have guessed that Norwegians feel the same way.

Just a few days ago, I was a little envious in this blog, praising the foresight of Norwegian cultural policy, only to realise today that I was fooling myself. Apparently, Norwegians also need to keep their feet on the ground, because their resources are limited too.

Yesterday I found the following statement in Avisa Nordland:

BODO: Stormen is in a serious financial situation after the subsidies were again cut. The director believes that a comprehensive package of cuts is necessary.

These are the specific consequences as the director sees it:

1. Sinus Lokalt will be cancelled. 
2. Saturday in Stormen is cancelled.
3. One FTE - a full-time position for child and youth care - will be cancelled. 
4. Three musician positions corresponding to one and a half full-time equivalents linked to Bodø Rytmegruppe (BRG) are cancelled.
5. Cancellation of Sinus Sona. 

The proposals will apply from autumn 2024, while revenues will be increased by EUR 500,000. 

I myself am a local politician in the fairly financially strong municipality of Stuhr near Bremen. I know that not everything that is desirable can be realised. But when a central institution like the Stormen, which is certainly very ambitious for this city, has seen its funding halved in eight years, I wonder whether there has been a radical paradigm shift in policy or whether there are other important reasons for this. After all, the European Capital of Culture programme will be officially opened at the end of the week. Europe is looking at Bodø! Do they only see a Potemkin village?

I have many questions and would be happy if someone could explain it to me.  As a guest in this pleasant city, I ultimately know too little to be able to judge the situation objectively.