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Freemuse report The State of Artistic Freedom 2020: ‘The world grows intolerant and violent against non-mainstream expression’

Photo: Joshua Coleman via Unsplash

Photo: Joshua Coleman via Unsplash

Freemuse report The State of Artistic Freedom 2020: ‘The world grows intolerant and violent against non-mainstream expression’

Freemuse’s new report State of Artistic Freedom 2020 is an in-depth analysis of 711 acts of violations of artistic freedom in 2019 in 93 countries.

4 May 2020

The yearly report shows widespread attacks on freedom of artistic expression on a global scale as practices of censoring artists’ voices continue. As the world shifts into isolation and government’s enact state of emergency procedures, this marks a critical moment for the state of artistic freedom. The report by Freemuse, an independent international organisation advocating for and defending freedom of artistic expression, explores the critical climate for artistic freedom as global nationalist populism continues to restrict expression.

‘Freedom of artistic expression is protected as long as it fits dominating narratives; politically, religiously, and digitally,’ says Dr. Srirak Plipat, Freemuse Executive Director. ‘This report shows that the west is losing its leading position as human rights and freedom defenders at a fast pace, while the world grows intolerant and violent against non-mainstream views and expression.’ Freemuse’s research notes the damning effect of nationalist, populist politics as already leading to increased restrictions on artistic expressions, with a marked deterioration in countries where this right has traditionally been protected.

Europe is the highest offender for imprisonments related to artistic expressions, with 42%

Artistic freedom in numbers

In 2019, the research documented that 42% of all imprisonments of artists concerned criticizing the government, with Europe the highest offender for imprisonments related to artistic expressions (42%). Governments were again responsible for 55% of all acts of censorship, affecting 847 artists and artworks. Politics was also the key issue behind the detention of artists, with 56% of artists detained on these grounds. Music remains the most frequently targeted art form at 32%, but visual art closely followed at 26%.

Organization:

Freemuse

File:

State of Artistic Freedom 2020
What do the numbers say: Edition U.S.A. brings you a summer newsflash on Dutch arts & culture

View on Seattle

Photo: Luca Micheli (Unsplash)

Photo: Luca Micheli (Unsplash)

What do the numbers say: Edition U.S.A. brings you a summer newsflash on Dutch arts & culture

Looking into the international activities by Dutch artists in the United States in 2018 leads to surprising facts: these cities and festivals are booming!

6 August 2019

By Renske Ebbers

DutchCulture hosts the one and only online repository of Dutch international cultural activities abroad, and the summer break is the perfect moment to take a deeper look into this database. As advisors to the cultural field, we often encourage cultural makers with international ambitions to really do their research about the country they want to work in. To learn about the work ethic, the financial structures, the political situation and cultural traditions. And, of course, we urge them to check our database to see who has gone before you, where they went and how they went about it. Better well stolen than badly invented, right? Vice versa, we learn about cultural cooperation with the country in question by listening to you and analyzing your activities abroad.

Jaap van Zweden. Photo: Chris Lee

Cultural newsflash

This advice can be applied specifically to the United States since there are so many paths to choose in this country. With a relentless 24-hour news cycle and the vast amount of entertaining American talk shows, it might be hard to look beyond both intriguing and deterrent political and social news items. You would almost oversee the fact, that 660 Dutch artists and artistic organisations showed their work across the ocean, in 331 different cities in the United States! Therefore, I would like to give you some surprising newsflashes today that will give you insights about the Dutch arts and culture in the U.S.A. Did you know that there are exciting opportunities in all cultural disciplines beyond the top five cities New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Las Vegas? Were you aware of the growing Dutch presence on American festivals and fairs? If not, keep on reading!

Nearly 80% of all the Dutch activities in 2018, took place outside of New York

“Start spreading the news, I am leaving today...”

Thinking about the U.S.A., a song like Frank Sinatra often jumps to mind, praising and evoking the city of opportunity: New York. It goes without saying that New York is highly important for arts and culture, as it is the number one city for Dutch activities. However, it is important to point out that close to 80% of all the Dutch activities in 2018, took place outside of New York! In fact, 60% of the activities took place outside of the top five cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas and Miami. And so it emerges - almost like in the old Frank Sinatra song: “if you can’t make it there, you can make it elsewhere.”

Texas as a cultural hotspot

To illustrate, I would like to introduce you to the cities six to ten from our 2018 list. I looked into the activities taking place there, and hope to point out interesting opportunities for multiple disciplines that may lead you to undiscovered paths. Shifting our focus to the far south, we find Houston, Dallas and Austin; three cities in the state of Texas.

In Dallas, we can find activities by Dutch organisations in the disciplines of Audiovisual Media, Heritage, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Music. Especially Classical Music is thriving in Dallas, since Dutch maestro Jaap van Zweden conducted 18 performances at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center as the musical director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Jaap’s story is a great example of building an international career by starting small; from Dallas, he has now moved on to New York to become the musical director of the New York Philharmonic.

Houston is also a paradise for Dutch musical geniuses, albeit in a slightly different genre. In 2018, 24 of the best Dutch DJ’s, like Afrojack, Ferry Corsten, Oliver Heldens and Yellow Claw were performing at 8 different venues in Houston! The most popular venues are famous nightclubs Clé Houston and Stereo Live. This makes Houston a great alternative to EDM hotspot Las Vegas, where 37 DJ’s played at 14 venues.

Austin offers many chances for different disciplines, as well as cross-disciplinary opportunities. Especially artists working on the crossroads of Design, Music and Digital Culture can find recognition at the South by Southwest festival, but I will talk more about that later on. More surprising might be that there were a dozen activities besides SXSW taking place in Austin, for example by theatre group Wunderbaum, who performed at the Fusebox Festival.

SXSW. Photo: Ryan Loughlin (Unsplash)

From Seattle to Washington

Travelling to the other side of the country, (which means a road trip of 3423 kilometres, equivalent to Amsterdam - Antalya), we see a diversity of Dutch organisations present in Seattle. Architect Marten Kuipers gave the lecture ‘Seeing our Invisible City’ at the Design Matters conference, while Zara Dwinger and Saskia Boddeke’s films were presented at the Seattle International Film Festival and the work of visual artists Berndnaut Smilde and Sebastiaan Bremer was exhibited in the Winston Wachter Gallery. Elsewhere, we can think of the translations of Dutch authors that were published by Seattle-based Amazon Crossing, disseminating Dutch literature all across the U.S.A.

Coming back to the East Coast, we see that Washington offers opportunities for Design, Audiovisual Media, Heritage, Visual Arts and the Performing Arts. For this latter discipline, the John F. Kennedy Center is a venue to follow, since the Dutch Dance Theater and the International Theatre Amsterdam performed several pieces here this year. In 2019 and 2020, the Kennedy Center is one of the main partners of the Dutch Youth Culture programme Never Grow Up!. For more information about this newsflash, read up on the programme here!

The John F. Kennedy Center is a venue to follow since the Dutch Dance Theater and the International Theatre Amsterdam performed here

Music festivals are so 2018

Festivals and fairs are very important for artists who want to explore international ambitions and build an international career. Not only do high-profile festivals provide a good opportunity to show your work, but they also bring together many experts and professionals from the cultural field. Being able to network, find potential partners and catch up with the latest discourses in your field can make all the difference for working abroad. That’s probably why the focus on Dutch presence at annual gatherings keeps on growing and in 2018 already 4 of the top 10 venues were festivals or fairs.

The most important festival is the previously mentioned South by Southwest (SXSW) festival. The festival focusses on digital and interactive media, film and music, and is especially fond of cross-media projects. In 2018, there were 59 Dutch activities at SXSW, 34 music performances, five film screenings, five design lectures and debates, nine debates and workshops in digital culture, five heritage-related activities and a visual arts performance. The place to be for electronic music is definitely the Electric Daisy Carnaval, with 25 Dutch DJ’s in live action in 2018.

LGBT flag. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Art exhibitions and LGBTQ+ films

At Art Basel in Miami, generally known as the primary art show for the Americans, the best contemporary and modern artworks from galleries all over the world are exhibited. It requires beating some tough competition to conquer a spot at this fair. However, in 2018 Dutch visual artists were taking their place in the spotlight with ten solo exhibitions and seven group exhibitions in Miami.

The film festival with the strongest Dutch participation is the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, as no less than twenty Dutch filmmakers presented their work here in 2018. Dutch work was also presented at the Chicago International Film Festival and the Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival. In fact,19 of the 49 film festivals in the U.S.A. with Dutch presence are specific LGBTQ+ festivals! If that is not a great, positive newsflash, I don’t know what is.

Stay in touch!

With this quick summer research in our database, I hope to have given you some positive newsflashes on Dutch Arts and Culture in the U.S.A. If you are an artist or an artistic organisation with serious ambitions to work in the United States, please read the recommendations and tips on the website of the Dutch Consulate General in New York, and check out the Frequently Asked Questions at the United States home page on our website. Here you will also find our database, so you can get started with your own research. Do let us know if you are presenting your work abroad, or if we can help you find your way there.

Previously we published an interview with the cultural attaché of the Netherlands in New York: Joost Taverne. Read it here.

Disclaimer Database

File:

Factsheet United States 2018.pdf
Cultural attaché Beate Gerlings on the cultural field in Germany: "Culture is an important part of life and society"

Berlin, Germany

Photo: Unsplash

Photo: Unsplash

Cultural attaché Beate Gerlings on the cultural field in Germany: "Culture is an important part of life and society"

A year on the job is a series of interviews with cultural attachés about their experiences. This edition: Beate Gerlings in Germany.

15 July 2019

By Renske Ebbers

A year on the job. In this series of interviews, we ask cultural attachés holding office in the focus countries of the International Cultural Policy of the Netherlands about their experiences. How do these attachés help Dutch art and culture? What were their expectations when they were posted abroad, and what challenges have they faced? Last in this series an interview with Beate Gerlings, Cultural Attaché of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Germany.

Beate, you are almost a year into your posting as cultural attaché in Berlin. Can you tell us something about your expectations beforehand, were they met?

"I already have a few cultural postings behind my belt, years ago at the policy unit within the Ministery of Foreign Affairs and on secondment as deputy director to DutchCulture from 2008-2010. Before that I gained international experience outside of the cultural field, before joining the MFA, working in South-Africa and with Doctors Without Borders, and at the Ministry’s Africa Department.

Anyway, after having been engaged in International Policy from those perspectives, I was eager to also do a stint at an embassy, and get involved in the implementation side of the International Cultural Policy. And it has been, as I expected, great to renew my acquaintance with the cultural field in the Netherlands and to dive into the great unknown of German arts and culture. I loved the policy making side of things, but I’m now thoroughly enjoying the more practical trade of cultural diplomacy."

Germany is not just Berlin! There are amazing opportunities in other parts of Germany as well

So you were well prepared for the cultural attaché position, and then you were chosen for the Dutch Embassy in Berlin. How did you feel about working at that post and moving to Berlin?

"Berlin is of course the jackpot for a cultural attaché, because you are in the most relevant country for the Netherlands when it comes to internationalisation in culture, as it is the biggest market for Dutch artists who are looking beyond the Dutch borders. And of course, Germany as Kulturnation, as country of thinkers and poets where culture is an important part of life and of society, is a Candyland for everyone active in the cultural field.

Throughout my career, I have always stood with my back to Germany, like more Dutch people, and have always been more Anglo-Saxon oriented. Fortunately I had the time to prepare well and to improve my German as well as my knowledge of the country. Learning the language is crucial in gaining a real understanding of a country and its people, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to make such an in-depth investment."

Rembrandt’s Strich in Kupferstich Kabinet Dresden. Rembrandt as a source of inspiration for other artists, amongst others Marlene Dumas and Willem de Rooij. The exhibition can be visited from the 14th of June until the 15th of September 2019.

Were there any concrete projects that you started working with, when you began your position?

"I really have the advantage of a strong team with very good people, some of whom have been there for many years. They have been steadily expanding their knowledge and building their network and are working very strategically. In that sense I also stand on the shoulders of my predecessors. I see how everyone has added something to the presence and visibility of Dutch arts and culture in Germany.

I try not to think in terms of projects, and more in terms of our strategic objectives and added value. More than in specific projects, this lies in our daily craftsmanship: cleverly using our networks, identifying opportunities, stimulating the German side with ideas and tempting them to look towards the Netherlands for their programmes. And on the Dutch side, providing information and insight. I believe strongly in creating demand by organising for people to have the knowledge and the networks to work together."

I believe strongly in creating demand by organising for people to have the knowledge and the networks to work together

Have you been able to build new relationships, or identify chances for the Dutch cultural field?

"The very active commitment to the Kunstverein network for Visual Arts, is really starting to pay off. The typical German phenomenon Kunstvereine offers a unique prospect for Dutch artists as an intermediate step towards museum exhibitions. We organise a lot of curator visits to the Netherlands, and now also work together with the Mondriaan fund to achieve more institutional partnerships between Kunstvereinen in Germany and Visual Arts institutions in the Netherlands. I

think that this long-term approach is well suited to the German context; to not jump too much from one opportunity to the next and instead be a very reliable, recognizable partner. We have also been building very steadily on another priority discipline: literature. In 2016, the Netherlands was Gastland at the Frankfurter Buchmesse, we worked towards that for years and the effect on the interest in Dutch literature and the number of translations is still visible. We are now looking into scaling up our presence and visibility at the Leipziger Buchmesse and the wonderful Leipzig Liest festival, which is more geared towards the public."

I think it's very interesting that you say, it's not about what I came up with in the past year, it's about what has been happening in a very sustainable and structural way for years. Do you also have your own ideas that you are trying to implement?

"In the field of the creative industry, the third priority discipline, I really want to bring focus. We have been somewhat delayed by circumstances, but we are now looking at two topics; design & circularity and design & public space. We are developing a more strategic approach towards profiling the Dutch design expertise in these fields."

Dutch Ambassador speaks at the 'Buchpremiere' of Daan Heerma van Voss at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Berlin. Photo: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Berlin

You mentioned that some circumstances can cause delays. What challenges do you have to work with, to sail the course you want?

"The three royal visits to a number of Bundesländer we’ve organised in the past ten months have had considerable impact on the deployment of our capacity. But at the same time these visits are a very effective way of profiling the Netherlands, not only economically but also culturally, and we make sure that these visits give a sustainable push to what we are already doing."

In addition to your team in Berlin, there are also consulates in Munich and Düsseldorf. How do you work together?

"Indeed, the German ‘culture team’ has a colleague in Munich, and since recently a colleague in Düsseldorf. Germany is too large a country to cover only from this, let´s say eccentrically located capital in the North-East. But we really work as a team, we develop plans together and discuss ideas together."

The culture of remembrance; Erinnerungskultur and Vergangenheitsbewältigung, is an important aspect of working in Germany

You mentioned that culture has a special place in Germany society, and that it is important to profile the Netherlands as a cultural country. Is that why you also travel a lot in Germany yourself?

"In Germany, culture is very closely linked to public administration and politics. And government officials and politicians are not worried about being perceived as ‘elite’ when they are seen reading a book or visiting an exhibition. They are also very much present at cultural events and openings. And they expect us, as Dutch representatives, there too, you have to be there! And whenever we can, we (whether it is the ambassador, myself or a team member) also step onto the stage at an opening.

Opening speeches, Grußworten, here in Germany are not quick and jolly words of thanks, you are expected to provide in-depth exploration of the subject, and display above-average Bildung and rhetorical finesse. Without at least three to five of such speeches, an opening is not a proper opening. Personally I really enjoy these openings, and also hugely enjoy delivering those speeches myself, and thus conducting ‘diplomacy by Grußwort’."

What Dutch activity in Germany in the coming period are you looking forward to?

"For the Berliner Festspiele at the end of the summer, Dutch video-art duo Metahaven from Amsterdam is invited to do a wonderful immersive project in a temporary dome. And the Concertgebouw Orchestra is part of the Musikfest with a Louis Andriessen program, who just turned 80 by the way. In the Netherlands he is perhaps the best known modern composer, and I find it very exciting that he suddenly gets attention here.

Of a completely different nature is the subject of dealing with heritage acquired in a colonial context, as topical and sensitive in Germany as it is in the Netherlands. We work towards forging common approaches by museums in both countries and cooperation between the German Minister of State for Culture and Media, Monika Grütters, and our Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Ingrid van Engelshoven, who have both expressed the need for closer European cooperation."

Royal Visit to the Babelsberg filmstudio's in the filmset of Grand Hotel Budapest May 2019. Photo: Jasper Kettner

With a background as a historian, you are also interested in our shared past, which is perhaps not always easy to discuss?

"The exhibition Jewish persecution in photos in the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam will come to the Topography des Terrors in Berlin. A photo exhibition in Berlin, about the persecution of the Jews in the Netherlands, partly financed by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That is really very special, then you are indeed talking about dealing with a complicated past. The culture of remembrance; Erinnerungskultur and Vergangenheitsbewältigung, is an important aspect of working in Germany."

Do you have a word of advice for Dutch cultural makers who have the ambition to work in Germany?

"Germany is not just Berlin! There are amazing opportunities in other parts of Germany as well, in Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Leipzig and in the medium-sized cities. Look for instance at the work of Dutch Wunderbaum in Jena. It is worthwhile to look further than Berlin, or to look closer-by than Berlin really!

In addition, sustainability is really important. Take the time to build a contact. Invest seriously in collaboration. And speak German. It is possible without, but it opens doors and gives you a huge plus in likability. Moreover, competition is fierce, you do have to come up with a good plan. Germans basically do not need Dutch arts and culture, they can fill their programmes and their spaces perfectly without us."

What I will take with me, I think, is really not shying away from in-depth engagement and content

You have a few years in Germany, before you return to the Netherlands, or perhaps to another country. What are you going to take with you from the German mentality and way of working? The German pünktlichkeit?

"I am pünktlicher than a German, so in that respect I fit in really well here! What I will take with me, I think, is really not shying away from in-depth engagement and content, instead of the Dutch way of taking ´grote stappen, snel thuis´. To take more and smaller steps, to really read the book, and to dare to have a conversation with each other about it. I plan to take that with me."

Cultural attaché Beate Gerlings of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Germany

Do you want to know more about a cultural exchange with Germany? Find everything here.
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We nodigen sprekers uit die internationale experts zijn op het gebied van cultuur, media en erfgoed. Dit kunnen kunstenaars, curatoren, trendwatchers, beleidsmakers, wetenschappers, journalisten en makers zijn. Vaak maken de sprekers onderdeel uit van een breder programma van DutchCulture, zoals van onze internationale bezoekersprogramma’s. Tijdens de Culture Talks is er altijd ruimte voor vragen, uitwisseling en kennismaking. De Culture Talks vinden plaats op het kantoor van DutchCulture, of bij een van onze vele partners in heel Nederland.

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23 juni - Tom Ruller (USA), de directeur van de New York Archives

21 juni - Matthew Covey (USA), expert op het gebied van kunstenaarsmobiliteit naar de VS

16 juni - Zahira Asmal (SA) over hoe Kaapstad een werkelijk inclusieve stad kan worden met al haar culturen, geschiedenissen en identiteiten

7 april - Aukaanse Marron delegatie uit Suriname

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Freemuse report The State of Artistic Freedom 2020: ‘The world grows intolerant and violent against non-mainstream expression’

Photo: Joshua Coleman via Unsplash

Photo: Joshua Coleman via Unsplash

Freemuse report The State of Artistic Freedom 2020: ‘The world grows intolerant and violent against non-mainstream expression’

Freemuse’s new report State of Artistic Freedom 2020 is an in-depth analysis of 711 acts of violations of artistic freedom in 2019 in 93 countries.

4 May 2020

The yearly report shows widespread attacks on freedom of artistic expression on a global scale as practices of censoring artists’ voices continue. As the world shifts into isolation and government’s enact state of emergency procedures, this marks a critical moment for the state of artistic freedom. The report by Freemuse, an independent international organisation advocating for and defending freedom of artistic expression, explores the critical climate for artistic freedom as global nationalist populism continues to restrict expression.

‘Freedom of artistic expression is protected as long as it fits dominating narratives; politically, religiously, and digitally,’ says Dr. Srirak Plipat, Freemuse Executive Director. ‘This report shows that the west is losing its leading position as human rights and freedom defenders at a fast pace, while the world grows intolerant and violent against non-mainstream views and expression.’ Freemuse’s research notes the damning effect of nationalist, populist politics as already leading to increased restrictions on artistic expressions, with a marked deterioration in countries where this right has traditionally been protected.

Europe is the highest offender for imprisonments related to artistic expressions, with 42%

Artistic freedom in numbers

In 2019, the research documented that 42% of all imprisonments of artists concerned criticizing the government, with Europe the highest offender for imprisonments related to artistic expressions (42%). Governments were again responsible for 55% of all acts of censorship, affecting 847 artists and artworks. Politics was also the key issue behind the detention of artists, with 56% of artists detained on these grounds. Music remains the most frequently targeted art form at 32%, but visual art closely followed at 26%.

Organization:

Freemuse

File:

State of Artistic Freedom 2020
What do the numbers say: Edition U.S.A. brings you a summer newsflash on Dutch arts & culture

View on Seattle

Photo: Luca Micheli (Unsplash)

Photo: Luca Micheli (Unsplash)

What do the numbers say: Edition U.S.A. brings you a summer newsflash on Dutch arts & culture

Looking into the international activities by Dutch artists in the United States in 2018 leads to surprising facts: these cities and festivals are booming!

6 August 2019

By Renske Ebbers

DutchCulture hosts the one and only online repository of Dutch international cultural activities abroad, and the summer break is the perfect moment to take a deeper look into this database. As advisors to the cultural field, we often encourage cultural makers with international ambitions to really do their research about the country they want to work in. To learn about the work ethic, the financial structures, the political situation and cultural traditions. And, of course, we urge them to check our database to see who has gone before you, where they went and how they went about it. Better well stolen than badly invented, right? Vice versa, we learn about cultural cooperation with the country in question by listening to you and analyzing your activities abroad.

Jaap van Zweden. Photo: Chris Lee

Cultural newsflash

This advice can be applied specifically to the United States since there are so many paths to choose in this country. With a relentless 24-hour news cycle and the vast amount of entertaining American talk shows, it might be hard to look beyond both intriguing and deterrent political and social news items. You would almost oversee the fact, that 660 Dutch artists and artistic organisations showed their work across the ocean, in 331 different cities in the United States! Therefore, I would like to give you some surprising newsflashes today that will give you insights about the Dutch arts and culture in the U.S.A. Did you know that there are exciting opportunities in all cultural disciplines beyond the top five cities New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles and Las Vegas? Were you aware of the growing Dutch presence on American festivals and fairs? If not, keep on reading!

Nearly 80% of all the Dutch activities in 2018, took place outside of New York

“Start spreading the news, I am leaving today...”

Thinking about the U.S.A., a song like Frank Sinatra often jumps to mind, praising and evoking the city of opportunity: New York. It goes without saying that New York is highly important for arts and culture, as it is the number one city for Dutch activities. However, it is important to point out that close to 80% of all the Dutch activities in 2018, took place outside of New York! In fact, 60% of the activities took place outside of the top five cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Las Vegas and Miami. And so it emerges - almost like in the old Frank Sinatra song: “if you can’t make it there, you can make it elsewhere.”

Texas as a cultural hotspot

To illustrate, I would like to introduce you to the cities six to ten from our 2018 list. I looked into the activities taking place there, and hope to point out interesting opportunities for multiple disciplines that may lead you to undiscovered paths. Shifting our focus to the far south, we find Houston, Dallas and Austin; three cities in the state of Texas.

In Dallas, we can find activities by Dutch organisations in the disciplines of Audiovisual Media, Heritage, Performing Arts, Visual Arts and Music. Especially Classical Music is thriving in Dallas, since Dutch maestro Jaap van Zweden conducted 18 performances at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center as the musical director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Jaap’s story is a great example of building an international career by starting small; from Dallas, he has now moved on to New York to become the musical director of the New York Philharmonic.

Houston is also a paradise for Dutch musical geniuses, albeit in a slightly different genre. In 2018, 24 of the best Dutch DJ’s, like Afrojack, Ferry Corsten, Oliver Heldens and Yellow Claw were performing at 8 different venues in Houston! The most popular venues are famous nightclubs Clé Houston and Stereo Live. This makes Houston a great alternative to EDM hotspot Las Vegas, where 37 DJ’s played at 14 venues.

Austin offers many chances for different disciplines, as well as cross-disciplinary opportunities. Especially artists working on the crossroads of Design, Music and Digital Culture can find recognition at the South by Southwest festival, but I will talk more about that later on. More surprising might be that there were a dozen activities besides SXSW taking place in Austin, for example by theatre group Wunderbaum, who performed at the Fusebox Festival.

SXSW. Photo: Ryan Loughlin (Unsplash)

From Seattle to Washington

Travelling to the other side of the country, (which means a road trip of 3423 kilometres, equivalent to Amsterdam - Antalya), we see a diversity of Dutch organisations present in Seattle. Architect Marten Kuipers gave the lecture ‘Seeing our Invisible City’ at the Design Matters conference, while Zara Dwinger and Saskia Boddeke’s films were presented at the Seattle International Film Festival and the work of visual artists Berndnaut Smilde and Sebastiaan Bremer was exhibited in the Winston Wachter Gallery. Elsewhere, we can think of the translations of Dutch authors that were published by Seattle-based Amazon Crossing, disseminating Dutch literature all across the U.S.A.

Coming back to the East Coast, we see that Washington offers opportunities for Design, Audiovisual Media, Heritage, Visual Arts and the Performing Arts. For this latter discipline, the John F. Kennedy Center is a venue to follow, since the Dutch Dance Theater and the International Theatre Amsterdam performed several pieces here this year. In 2019 and 2020, the Kennedy Center is one of the main partners of the Dutch Youth Culture programme Never Grow Up!. For more information about this newsflash, read up on the programme here!

The John F. Kennedy Center is a venue to follow since the Dutch Dance Theater and the International Theatre Amsterdam performed here

Music festivals are so 2018

Festivals and fairs are very important for artists who want to explore international ambitions and build an international career. Not only do high-profile festivals provide a good opportunity to show your work, but they also bring together many experts and professionals from the cultural field. Being able to network, find potential partners and catch up with the latest discourses in your field can make all the difference for working abroad. That’s probably why the focus on Dutch presence at annual gatherings keeps on growing and in 2018 already 4 of the top 10 venues were festivals or fairs.

The most important festival is the previously mentioned South by Southwest (SXSW) festival. The festival focusses on digital and interactive media, film and music, and is especially fond of cross-media projects. In 2018, there were 59 Dutch activities at SXSW, 34 music performances, five film screenings, five design lectures and debates, nine debates and workshops in digital culture, five heritage-related activities and a visual arts performance. The place to be for electronic music is definitely the Electric Daisy Carnaval, with 25 Dutch DJ’s in live action in 2018.

LGBT flag. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Art exhibitions and LGBTQ+ films

At Art Basel in Miami, generally known as the primary art show for the Americans, the best contemporary and modern artworks from galleries all over the world are exhibited. It requires beating some tough competition to conquer a spot at this fair. However, in 2018 Dutch visual artists were taking their place in the spotlight with ten solo exhibitions and seven group exhibitions in Miami.

The film festival with the strongest Dutch participation is the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival, as no less than twenty Dutch filmmakers presented their work here in 2018. Dutch work was also presented at the Chicago International Film Festival and the Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival. In fact,19 of the 49 film festivals in the U.S.A. with Dutch presence are specific LGBTQ+ festivals! If that is not a great, positive newsflash, I don’t know what is.

Stay in touch!

With this quick summer research in our database, I hope to have given you some positive newsflashes on Dutch Arts and Culture in the U.S.A. If you are an artist or an artistic organisation with serious ambitions to work in the United States, please read the recommendations and tips on the website of the Dutch Consulate General in New York, and check out the Frequently Asked Questions at the United States home page on our website. Here you will also find our database, so you can get started with your own research. Do let us know if you are presenting your work abroad, or if we can help you find your way there.

Previously we published an interview with the cultural attaché of the Netherlands in New York: Joost Taverne. Read it here.

Disclaimer Database

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Factsheet United States 2018.pdf
Cultural attaché Beate Gerlings on the cultural field in Germany: "Culture is an important part of life and society"

Berlin, Germany

Photo: Unsplash

Photo: Unsplash

Cultural attaché Beate Gerlings on the cultural field in Germany: "Culture is an important part of life and society"

A year on the job is a series of interviews with cultural attachés about their experiences. This edition: Beate Gerlings in Germany.

15 July 2019

By Renske Ebbers

A year on the job. In this series of interviews, we ask cultural attachés holding office in the focus countries of the International Cultural Policy of the Netherlands about their experiences. How do these attachés help Dutch art and culture? What were their expectations when they were posted abroad, and what challenges have they faced? Last in this series an interview with Beate Gerlings, Cultural Attaché of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Germany.

Beate, you are almost a year into your posting as cultural attaché in Berlin. Can you tell us something about your expectations beforehand, were they met?

"I already have a few cultural postings behind my belt, years ago at the policy unit within the Ministery of Foreign Affairs and on secondment as deputy director to DutchCulture from 2008-2010. Before that I gained international experience outside of the cultural field, before joining the MFA, working in South-Africa and with Doctors Without Borders, and at the Ministry’s Africa Department.

Anyway, after having been engaged in International Policy from those perspectives, I was eager to also do a stint at an embassy, and get involved in the implementation side of the International Cultural Policy. And it has been, as I expected, great to renew my acquaintance with the cultural field in the Netherlands and to dive into the great unknown of German arts and culture. I loved the policy making side of things, but I’m now thoroughly enjoying the more practical trade of cultural diplomacy."

Germany is not just Berlin! There are amazing opportunities in other parts of Germany as well

So you were well prepared for the cultural attaché position, and then you were chosen for the Dutch Embassy in Berlin. How did you feel about working at that post and moving to Berlin?

"Berlin is of course the jackpot for a cultural attaché, because you are in the most relevant country for the Netherlands when it comes to internationalisation in culture, as it is the biggest market for Dutch artists who are looking beyond the Dutch borders. And of course, Germany as Kulturnation, as country of thinkers and poets where culture is an important part of life and of society, is a Candyland for everyone active in the cultural field.

Throughout my career, I have always stood with my back to Germany, like more Dutch people, and have always been more Anglo-Saxon oriented. Fortunately I had the time to prepare well and to improve my German as well as my knowledge of the country. Learning the language is crucial in gaining a real understanding of a country and its people, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to make such an in-depth investment."

Rembrandt’s Strich in Kupferstich Kabinet Dresden. Rembrandt as a source of inspiration for other artists, amongst others Marlene Dumas and Willem de Rooij. The exhibition can be visited from the 14th of June until the 15th of September 2019.

Were there any concrete projects that you started working with, when you began your position?

"I really have the advantage of a strong team with very good people, some of whom have been there for many years. They have been steadily expanding their knowledge and building their network and are working very strategically. In that sense I also stand on the shoulders of my predecessors. I see how everyone has added something to the presence and visibility of Dutch arts and culture in Germany.

I try not to think in terms of projects, and more in terms of our strategic objectives and added value. More than in specific projects, this lies in our daily craftsmanship: cleverly using our networks, identifying opportunities, stimulating the German side with ideas and tempting them to look towards the Netherlands for their programmes. And on the Dutch side, providing information and insight. I believe strongly in creating demand by organising for people to have the knowledge and the networks to work together."

I believe strongly in creating demand by organising for people to have the knowledge and the networks to work together

Have you been able to build new relationships, or identify chances for the Dutch cultural field?

"The very active commitment to the Kunstverein network for Visual Arts, is really starting to pay off. The typical German phenomenon Kunstvereine offers a unique prospect for Dutch artists as an intermediate step towards museum exhibitions. We organise a lot of curator visits to the Netherlands, and now also work together with the Mondriaan fund to achieve more institutional partnerships between Kunstvereinen in Germany and Visual Arts institutions in the Netherlands. I

think that this long-term approach is well suited to the German context; to not jump too much from one opportunity to the next and instead be a very reliable, recognizable partner. We have also been building very steadily on another priority discipline: literature. In 2016, the Netherlands was Gastland at the Frankfurter Buchmesse, we worked towards that for years and the effect on the interest in Dutch literature and the number of translations is still visible. We are now looking into scaling up our presence and visibility at the Leipziger Buchmesse and the wonderful Leipzig Liest festival, which is more geared towards the public."

I think it's very interesting that you say, it's not about what I came up with in the past year, it's about what has been happening in a very sustainable and structural way for years. Do you also have your own ideas that you are trying to implement?

"In the field of the creative industry, the third priority discipline, I really want to bring focus. We have been somewhat delayed by circumstances, but we are now looking at two topics; design & circularity and design & public space. We are developing a more strategic approach towards profiling the Dutch design expertise in these fields."

Dutch Ambassador speaks at the 'Buchpremiere' of Daan Heerma van Voss at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Berlin. Photo: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Berlin

You mentioned that some circumstances can cause delays. What challenges do you have to work with, to sail the course you want?

"The three royal visits to a number of Bundesländer we’ve organised in the past ten months have had considerable impact on the deployment of our capacity. But at the same time these visits are a very effective way of profiling the Netherlands, not only economically but also culturally, and we make sure that these visits give a sustainable push to what we are already doing."

In addition to your team in Berlin, there are also consulates in Munich and Düsseldorf. How do you work together?

"Indeed, the German ‘culture team’ has a colleague in Munich, and since recently a colleague in Düsseldorf. Germany is too large a country to cover only from this, let´s say eccentrically located capital in the North-East. But we really work as a team, we develop plans together and discuss ideas together."

The culture of remembrance; Erinnerungskultur and Vergangenheitsbewältigung, is an important aspect of working in Germany

You mentioned that culture has a special place in Germany society, and that it is important to profile the Netherlands as a cultural country. Is that why you also travel a lot in Germany yourself?

"In Germany, culture is very closely linked to public administration and politics. And government officials and politicians are not worried about being perceived as ‘elite’ when they are seen reading a book or visiting an exhibition. They are also very much present at cultural events and openings. And they expect us, as Dutch representatives, there too, you have to be there! And whenever we can, we (whether it is the ambassador, myself or a team member) also step onto the stage at an opening.

Opening speeches, Grußworten, here in Germany are not quick and jolly words of thanks, you are expected to provide in-depth exploration of the subject, and display above-average Bildung and rhetorical finesse. Without at least three to five of such speeches, an opening is not a proper opening. Personally I really enjoy these openings, and also hugely enjoy delivering those speeches myself, and thus conducting ‘diplomacy by Grußwort’."

What Dutch activity in Germany in the coming period are you looking forward to?

"For the Berliner Festspiele at the end of the summer, Dutch video-art duo Metahaven from Amsterdam is invited to do a wonderful immersive project in a temporary dome. And the Concertgebouw Orchestra is part of the Musikfest with a Louis Andriessen program, who just turned 80 by the way. In the Netherlands he is perhaps the best known modern composer, and I find it very exciting that he suddenly gets attention here.

Of a completely different nature is the subject of dealing with heritage acquired in a colonial context, as topical and sensitive in Germany as it is in the Netherlands. We work towards forging common approaches by museums in both countries and cooperation between the German Minister of State for Culture and Media, Monika Grütters, and our Minister for Education, Culture and Science, Ingrid van Engelshoven, who have both expressed the need for closer European cooperation."

Royal Visit to the Babelsberg filmstudio's in the filmset of Grand Hotel Budapest May 2019. Photo: Jasper Kettner

With a background as a historian, you are also interested in our shared past, which is perhaps not always easy to discuss?

"The exhibition Jewish persecution in photos in the National Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam will come to the Topography des Terrors in Berlin. A photo exhibition in Berlin, about the persecution of the Jews in the Netherlands, partly financed by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That is really very special, then you are indeed talking about dealing with a complicated past. The culture of remembrance; Erinnerungskultur and Vergangenheitsbewältigung, is an important aspect of working in Germany."

Do you have a word of advice for Dutch cultural makers who have the ambition to work in Germany?

"Germany is not just Berlin! There are amazing opportunities in other parts of Germany as well, in Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Leipzig and in the medium-sized cities. Look for instance at the work of Dutch Wunderbaum in Jena. It is worthwhile to look further than Berlin, or to look closer-by than Berlin really!

In addition, sustainability is really important. Take the time to build a contact. Invest seriously in collaboration. And speak German. It is possible without, but it opens doors and gives you a huge plus in likability. Moreover, competition is fierce, you do have to come up with a good plan. Germans basically do not need Dutch arts and culture, they can fill their programmes and their spaces perfectly without us."

What I will take with me, I think, is really not shying away from in-depth engagement and content

You have a few years in Germany, before you return to the Netherlands, or perhaps to another country. What are you going to take with you from the German mentality and way of working? The German pünktlichkeit?

"I am pünktlicher than a German, so in that respect I fit in really well here! What I will take with me, I think, is really not shying away from in-depth engagement and content, instead of the Dutch way of taking ´grote stappen, snel thuis´. To take more and smaller steps, to really read the book, and to dare to have a conversation with each other about it. I plan to take that with me."

Cultural attaché Beate Gerlings of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Germany

Do you want to know more about a cultural exchange with Germany? Find everything here.
Culture Talks - Connecting Creatives

DutchCulture organiseert Culture Talks met cultuurprofessionals uit binnen- en buitenland.

DutchCulture organiseert regelmatig Culture Talks. Culture Talks zijn inspiratiesessies, workshops of lezingen waarin cultuurprofessionals uit binnen- en buitenland met een internationale blik hun kennis en ervaring delen met geïnteresseerden.

We nodigen sprekers uit die internationale experts zijn op het gebied van cultuur, media en erfgoed. Dit kunnen kunstenaars, curatoren, trendwatchers, beleidsmakers, wetenschappers, journalisten en makers zijn. Vaak maken de sprekers onderdeel uit van een breder programma van DutchCulture, zoals van onze internationale bezoekersprogramma’s. Tijdens de Culture Talks is er altijd ruimte voor vragen, uitwisseling en kennismaking. De Culture Talks vinden plaats op het kantoor van DutchCulture, of bij een van onze vele partners in heel Nederland.

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In 2017 organiseerden we de volgende Culture Talks:

19 december - programmamakers Mizuho Ishii en Yumiko Fujimoto (JP) en beeldend kunstenaar Seyit Battal Kurt (NL) over artist-in-residencies in Japan

26 oktober - Wies Ubags (NL), correspondent Latijns-Amerika over Brazilië en haar slavernijverleden

12 oktober – internationale gasten over Liveable Historical Cities

3 oktober - internationale experts over Fair Practice in de kunsten

21 september - IPHAN (BR) over cultural landscapes

15 september - Marie Le Sourd (FR) van On the Move over internationale culturele mobiliteit

23 juni - Tom Ruller (USA), de directeur van de New York Archives

21 juni - Matthew Covey (USA), expert op het gebied van kunstenaarsmobiliteit naar de VS

16 juni - Zahira Asmal (SA) over hoe Kaapstad een werkelijk inclusieve stad kan worden met al haar culturen, geschiedenissen en identiteiten

7 april - Aukaanse Marron delegatie uit Suriname

15 februari - Zuid-Afrikaanse delegatie over narratieven in Zuid-Afrikaanse musea
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