The letter is a last attempt to reach out to the Executive Board of Wageningen UR. If the board does not come to the rescue, the volunteers fear that it would be over for Movie W on 1 January. Movie W would have to move out of the LA13 building then. The letter, written in English, is reproduced in full here.
New plan
Meanwhile, the Movie W management has drawn up a new business plan. An earlier plan had been rejected by the Executive Board. That entailed Wageningen UR contributing a total of two hundred thousand euros in the next ten years to keep Movie W going. The Board finds this amount too high; it will not consider anything more than a much lower one-off contribution of 40,000 euros.
The new plan takes into account all the major conditions stipulated by Wageningen UR, says Movie W spokesperson Huib de Vriend. As such, the entrance fee raise would be implemented sooner and the prices of drinks would be increased. Movie W is also counting on being charged less rent by the future landlord, 't Venster. In addition, parties other than Wageningen UR would co-finance Movie W. One such party has already agreed, according to De Vriend.
Talks with the Executive Board will resume soon.
The open letter:
Movie W forced to close for good?
An open call to the EB of the WUR and to the academic and general society of Wageningen.
Movie W is the arthouse cinema in Wageningen which actively contributes to the cultural program of the Studium Generale of the Wageningen University. It is entirely run by a group of volunteers, who provide a high standard cinematic program, often combined with extras such as lectures, already for more than 35 years. All these years Movie W has received support from the university, mainly accommodation. Earlier this year, the current Executive Board of the university has decided to stop this support. Despite talks between Movie W and the university, it still is possible that Movie W will be forced to close its doors at the end of December. For good. Given this situation, we, the volunteers, urge the university to prevent this to happen.
You might wonder, what is the value of Movie W? It is a cultural space in Wageningen that, on a permanent and regular basis, screens unique documentaries and films, frequently combined with lectures and discussions. The screenings performed at Movie W are an inspiration for curious students and scientists, who want to look beyond their own specific field of research, to be challenged to think out of the box, to reflect and to discuss topics related to science, society, politics or arts. For over 35 years, Movie W provides this by screening films and documentaries from all over the world, often connected to relevant debates in society and science. All made possible, free of charge, by an enthusiast group of volunteers who share a passion for independent cinema. Wageningen deserves a place like Movie W: a perfect spot to connect science with society, one of the best places to meet, between the university and the city.
Since we are told in March this year to find another accommodation, we have been working hard on a plan of action. Among several relocation options, Heerenstraattheater and 't Venster have been thoroughly researched. In the resulting analysis, 't Venster provides the best conditions to guarantee a sustainable continuation of Movie W. There we could continue screening 7 times a week with an optional lecture, as we already do. The Board of Movie W has written, and rewritten, a solid business plan for the coming years and presented this to the Executive Board of the university. Negotiations on the continuation of Movie W, based on the latest business plan, will be renewed soon.
As volunteers of Movie W, we are keen to provide with a healthy, inspiring and long lasting intellectual environment in Wageningen for many more years. We urge the Executive Board of the university to find the means to guarantee the continuation of Movie W. We are convinced this will be possible and we will be delighted to see this happening very soon.
Yours sincerely, the volunteers of Movie W
Comments (14) 19:03u 14 November 2011 - by peter goedhart
it would be a shame for the universtiy if movie w has to close down
19:14u 14 November 2011 - by Hinder Staal
Movie W is een van de weinige filmhuizen in de directe omgeving Van Ede bijv.
Movie W moet dus blijven en zeker om hun goed gekozen filmaanbod.
22:21u 14 November 2011 - by ten Hallers
Een groot verlies, als Movie W zou verdwijnen; culturele armoe!
8:37u 15 November 2011 - by Judit
Movie W is een van de plekken die Wageningen bijzonder maakt! Het zou een groot verlies zijn voor Wageningens diversiteit als MOvie W zou moeten stoppen…
10:54u 15 November 2011 - by Ria
Blijf Wageningen toch op de kaart zetten met een filmhuis! Het zou bijna beschamend zijn zo’n geweldig initiatief de das om te doen. Altijd heel knus en interessante films!!!
11:30u 15 November 2011 - by Petrus
Ja, lekker zeg. Waar zijn alle replies nou, ook die van mij? Hele epistels van Movie-W vrijwilligers, verschwunden.
Nou goed ik doe ook mee! Movie-W moet blijven!
Het zou zonde zijn als het stopt! Dus vergeet die hele WUR, wees blij met je 40.000 euri en onderneem zelf iets!
Voor al die vrijwilligers en gewone Wageningse burgers die elkaar ontmoeten in de filmzaal van Movie-W. Ik wil heel graag nog gewoon naar de film na januari, of april? Nouja, whatever. Tot Movie-W uit LA13 moet en naar het Heerenstraattheater gaat.
14:29u 15 November 2011 - by shimra
in the last years creative and social venues have slowly disapeared from wageningen or turned into a more commercial direction. in addition the new govermant laws are pushing culture to a dark corner. it is in my opinion our responsibility as residants of wageningen to do what we can to support this source of creativity and culture, movie w, and not just except this behavior from the wur . many of us chose wageningen for its social structure and cultural environmant, and in the end of the day, this reasones will determin future choices. LETS KEEP WAGENINGEN A PLACE WE CHOOSE TO LIVE IN.
15:24u 15 November 2011 - by Karel
I hope the WUR is willing and able to give up the idée fixe that Movie W should relocate to the Heerenstraattheater. As stated in the letter by the volunteers, and already last summer communicated to the WUR, Movie W cannot continue at the Heerenstraattheater (see the comment by Martin Ruiter, owner of Heerenstraattheater in Wageningen: “However, we can hardly accommodate them at present” http://resource.wur.nl/en/organisatie/detail/a_filmhouse_in_a_university/).
Because they have no room for us to continue screening 7 time a week. Also extras such as lectures will be hard if not impossible, because this will take precious time of the Heerenstraattheater.
Wageningen deserves an organisation like Movie W.
The WUR cannot expect Movie W to be completely financially independent within 9 months (only in March this year was announced we should get independent form the WUR). To be realistic, this will take at least a couple of years.
So I really think the WUR for now has an important role to play in safeguarding the continued existence of the arthouse Movie W.
If the WUR is willing to do so, this should be possible.
19:05u 15 November 2011 - by Rob
Een studentenstad zonder filmhuis is geen studentenstad - ga de studentesteden maar na. Films als bij Movie W zijn noodzakelijk voor de intellectuele en emotionele vorming. WUR, laat het niet gebeuren om die paar stuivers op de begroting.
13:42u 16 November 2011 - by Mascha Sappok
WUR, I think there are no big arguments necessary. Just support movie W. Maybe Friesland-Campina wants to sponsor a bit?
16:30u 16 November 2011 - by Linus
Letting all the international students come in such a small town means also that the university has to provide some culture next to the study. ´Studying means more than education! Movie-W MUST stay!
19:52u 16 November 2011 - by Johan Das
wat kan de gemeente Wageningen betekenen? financieel, of een beschikbaar gemeentepand, andere beschikbare lokaties als het op verhuizen aankomt?
het aanbod trekt immers niet alleen mensen die aan de WUR verbonden zijn..
17:36u 25 November 2011 - by Movie W
Alles teruglezen wat je altijd al hebt willen weten m.b.t. de laatste stand van zaken rondom Movie W? Zie hier: http://movie-w.beheer.nu/index/steunons.php
15:45u 29 November 2011 - by Nicolette Meerstadt, web editor
As you may have noticed this is an English website, so please have the courtesy to comment in English. If you prefer to vent your spleen in Dutch, go to resource.wur.nl.
