Opera Zuid has started a petition asking for the government to continue to subsidize the company.

The news comes after Opera Zuid wrote, “During the cultural debate in the House of Representatives on Monday 11 November, a lot of attention was paid to the situation of Opera Zuid. Unfortunately, the minister did not allocate extra money. Groenlinks-PvdA has submitted a motion on this, which will be voted on November 19. Earlier, the Council for Culture called on the OCW ministry to actively support Opera Zuid with additional funding opportunities because OZ ‘needs more structural arm stroke to be able to fulfill its basic function as a full-fledged opera company.’ The Council is very positive about the quality and supply, and calls Opera Zuid’s activities ‘indispensable value for a broad opera selection in the South.”

Without the subsidy, the company runs the risk of bankruptcy.

In the Opera Zuid petition, which has already been signed by 1,157 as of this writing, the company asks, to “Stop the destruction of culture outside the Randstad, maintain institutions that support young talent, and hold the government to its promise to follow the advice of the Council.”

The petition, which is written by the singers, makers, designers, composers, technicians, residents of South NL, and all opera lovers added, “the House of Representatives to hold the government to the advice of the Cultural Council and to support the motion by GroenLinks-PvdA member Mohandis to find active support and additional funding for Opera Zuid.”