Billund IF has found the premises, made its plans and is ready to bring the association’s creative activities together under one roof. But the municipality isn’t quite on board with the idea.
The association wants to set up Kulturværket in the former administration offices of Billund Varmeværk on Møllevej, which now stand empty. There will be room for BI-Kultur, Krea, MakerMates and board games – and, importantly, the chance to leave the equipment for creative activities out instead of having to pack everything away after each activity.
But Billund Municipality has turned down the association’s application for a grant towards the premises. The municipality says there are already suitable spaces at both Billund Centret and Billund Idrætscenter. So why pay for new ones?
Billund IF doesn’t buy that argument. The association says the suggested spaces can’t provide the permanent base it wants, where activities can come together and equipment can be stored safely. Billund IF has therefore objected to the decision.
It costs pretty much the same
Here’s the slightly curious part: According to the municipality’s own calculations, it would cost between 111.000 and 121.000 kroner a year to provide a grant for Kulturværket at the heating plant. But if the activities are held in a self-owned sports hall, the municipality expects the cost to be roughly the same.
So it isn’t necessarily about saving money.
Instead, the municipality wants to make sure activities are held in the sports halls it already has operating agreements with, giving the halls a stable financial footing.
The Culture and Leisure Council has already backed the municipality’s decision. It is now up to the politicians on the Youth, Employment, Culture and Volunteering Committee to discuss the case and consider Billund IF’s objection.
The question is whether the association will be allowed to bring the creative community together at the heating plant – or will have to make do with the existing facilities.
