ABSTRACT
The struggle for artistic territory can be a bitter one in a region as fragile as Flanders, where a limited amount of subsidies is to be divided among various orchestra models with overlapping artistic identities. Moreover, confusion over an adequate distribution of core tasks and available financial resources arouses discussions about whether these various models are complementary or rather get in each other’s way. In this chapter, organization-specific as well as field dynamics will be identified by means of two different orchestra models in Flanders. Antwerp Symphony Orchestra is explicitly portrayed by Flemish policy makers as the representative orchestra in Flanders, with an according artistic profile. Casco Phil makes an excellent contrast case, as it is the only Flanders-based orchestra that has developed a model that functions without subsidies. Together, both models represent a cross-section of Flanders’ orchestra landscape, and thus mark the front lines of Flanders’ struggle for artistic territory.
