HERE & NOW Message from the HCA 2005 Board

On a board meeting 31 May, the board of directors of the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 made the following decisions:

By HCA2005 - H.C. Andersen 2005 - 02 June 2005

There will be implemented a 5.8 million DKK cutback on projects. The cutbacks will affect about 20 projects, which are:

- projects that have proven cheaper to carry through 
- projects that are cancelled or carried through with a reduced grant after agreement with the project

The affected projects have been informed.

There will be implemented a 3.8 million DKK cutback on administration and marketing. This implies:

- that the secretariat will be closed by 31 December 2005
- that the collaboration with Have PR will be reduced significantly

- In order to curtail the scope of cancellations in the Hans Christian Andersen programme, one of the founding partners, i.e. The Bikuben Foundation has decided to overtake the financing of projects to the amount of 4 million DKK. In this way the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation saves the equivalent amount. Some of the supported projects outside Denmark will receive economical support from the Danish Ministry of Culture's special grant for international cultural exchange. With this the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation will save another 1 million DKK.

The reason to these cutbacks is that the board of directors has noted a deficit of 13.3 million DKK in the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation's total budget. The reason to the deficit is primarily due to the failing revenues in connection with the opening show "Once Upon a Time" 2 April 2005. With the above-mentioned cutbacks, the budget has been brought into balance.

- The chairman of the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation, Anker Boye, decided to resign 30 May 2005. Deputy chairman Poul Bache is constituted chairman until further notice. 
- Secretary General Lars Seeberg has resigned as Secretary General after mutual agreement. Until the end of 2005 he will be at the disposal of the board of directors as artistic consultant. The board of directors acknowledges Lars Seeberg's contribution to the artistic substance of the Hans Christian Andersen bicentenary and appreciates to have his competences at their disposal. 
- Head of administration Mette Sigaard is constituted leader of the secretariat until further notice. 
- The Andersen-bicentenary's activities, both in Denmark and internationally will continue unabashed. The same applies for the secretariat for the Hans Christian Andersen 2005 Foundation.

Se the full list of cutbacks here


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