Hedi-Liis Toome is a theater researcher and critic. She says the theater funding system needs to change. She believes experts should be trusted, not their decisions overturned.
Toome was part of the first theater commission in 2022. There, they carefully reviewed all funding applications. They gave scores and discussed them among themselves. It was long and hard work.
Being a commission member is difficult because if a theater doesn't get funding, accusations arise against the experts. Toome thinks the media has contributed to this. She asks who would want to join the commission now if they are being humiliated.
Commission members didn't join voluntarily. They come from theaters and the ministry. They are experts in their field. Toome believes humiliating experts is not good.
The funding system has been changed, but new problems arise every year. Toome asks why the system isn't properly reformed to suit everyone.
The problem is that currently, small amounts of money are being debated. Toome thinks the bigger picture should be considered. Perhaps the entire theater funding system should be changed.
Toome emphasizes that theaters are different. Some have large halls, others don't even have a building. All are evaluated by the same rules. This raises questions.
The big problem is that there isn't enough money for everyone. If funding is spread more thinly, each gets less. Toome thinks theaters will start dying out if more money isn't allocated.
Toome also talks about transparency. She says it used to be unclear why theaters got funding. Now the system is more transparent. She believes this is good.
Toome would recommend a grant system where funding is allocated for three years. This could help theaters experiment. She thinks this could be a separate category.
Finally, Toome asks whether the minister should provide funding if the commission doesn't want to. She says sometimes the minister is under pressure because people want to support theaters.