Met open armen? Over de voorwaarden die Nederlandse auteurs stellen aan het vragen om en aanvaarden van zorg

Abstract

This paper focuses on the resources Dutch literary authors are prepared to mobilize in order to strengthen their (financial, artistic, moral and societal) position. Using gift theory to tie in with the growing social and scientific attention to the subject of care, we first examine what conditions authors place on accepting care from governments, literary stakeholders, and each other. Our results show a clear need for and appreciation of care, as well as a certain reluctance to ask for or accept care. Accepting care becomes easier when authors can see it as part of a broader context of community spirit or community building, or experience it as part of a balanced, equal or reciprocal exchange. We also found that respondents place additional conditions on accepting the support of private donors. They feel resistance to asking for or accepting private donations if it makes them feel dependent or seems to jeopardize their (artistic) autonomy.