“There are no free lunches”
Koster Chamber Music Festival is back for the fourth year. Again, the heavenly tones float over Koster islands by the beautiful cliffs and meadows. Thomas & Martin, the musicians and many employees are working hard and lovingly so that we can face the music’s magic in a magical landscape.
But love is not enough. Everything costs and most of the major cultural and sporting events are dependent on sponsors. Entrepreneurs and traders in Strömstad has for many years generously supported cultural and sporting events of various kinds. In fact, the largest organization could hardly be implemented unless private sponsors got involved.
A donor who wishes to remain anonymous (but of course fail completely with this) has donated a specially commissioned grand piano of the highest class to Koster Chamber Music Festival. The grand piano is one of the finest instruments in Strömstad and superseded by far the instruments the municipality can offer. It is a beautiful gift, and one of the most generous cultural donations of the City’s history.
But there are no free lunches. I guess that the donor has thought something like this: “Thomas and Martin have created something wonderful and valuable for Koster, I think it’s important to show how their work is appreciated and will help to give them good conditions to develop the festival.” But there is probably also a pretty strong call for the future: “This grand piano I give to you to show how important the festival is for me and for Koster. Think about it. Do not give up without working on for many years to make the festival even better! Do not let me down! ”
Gifts are never unilateral. There is always a conscious or subconscious intention behind the gift. A gift means a lot for both the donor and the recipient. The anonymous Koster local have joined the ranks of the not-too-long list of generous donors in Strömstad, with examples that Adolf Fritiof Cavalli-Holmgren (City Hall) and Erik Iron Field (Salto Farm).
Why not follow these good examples? I hereby call on all wealthy and successful Current city dwellers to get involved – Anderssons, Pettersons and Lundströms or whoever you may be – take the chance to enriching yourselves and your city. I will be happy to help find the appropriate purposes.
Now the summer is here and beautiful tones will flow. Visit Koster and enjoy the festival, a tasty sandwich table for all music lovers’ sweet tooth.
Jan Palmblad
Minister of Culture and Information
Strömstad Municipality
