Over 200 Flemish artists posted images on social media on Thursday that are 60% covered in yellow in protest against the recently announced cutbacks in the culture sector.
The Flemish government announced on Saturday its plan to spend 60% less on culture and heritage, a cutback that will significantly impact the availability of project grants.
Images of the artwork, covered in yellow, are being shared using the hashtag #thisisourculture.
Less is less. #thisisourculture #stateofthearts #filipdujardin #renaatbraem pic.twitter.com/3k9wA23dQa
— dimitri leue (@DimitriLeue) November 14, 2019
-60% project funding = -60% culture#thisisourculture #stateofthearts pic.twitter.com/C7iZmDlgtU
— Opera Ballet Vlaanderen (@operaballetvl) November 14, 2019
Those who have posted want to make it clear that "the culture that we love today did not come on its own," the Flemish organisation State of the Arts told VRT news.
"Every artist needed and needs opportunities to experiment and develop. They often got such opportunities thanks to project grants," the organisation added.
Evie McCullough
The Brussels Times
