Jan Zoet's leadership sets an example for generations

When the Rotterdam Theatre announced the programme for the year (2001) that the city would be European Capital of Culture, director Jan Zoet hosted it at Amsterdam's Stadsschouwburg. In the ongoing 010-020 struggle, quite a statement. Zoet knew that the national press sat in the capital and was rarely willing to look outside the city limits. He also knew he needed Amsterdam audiences for his bold, international programming. Audiences that had to be brought in by bus if necessary. 

In doing so, the man who died this weekend at the age of 66 set the tone for a remarkable career of connecting leadership. 

With his striking choice to bring Rotterdam to Amsterdam's cultural elite, Zoet continued a tradition he had learned at Hollandia. That company always played in impossible locations and had managed to build a name as something exclusive that theatre lovers had to have been to, even if it took hours of travel time. For Amsterdammers, Rotterdam is also a remote corner, only worth a visit if the red carpet is rolled out. 

Johan Simons

That Jan Zoet came to Rotterdam was a consequence of Johan Simons' flirtation with Rotterdam as artistic director of Hollandia. Because of the ambition to future-proof the company, he had signed it up as a city company for the city on the Maas, at a time when the then secretary of state for culture encouraged that kind of collaboration. That flirtation failed and Simons left for Ghent via Eindhoven, but Jan Zoet stayed. 

His task was to reconnect the Rotterdam Theatre with the people of the Maas City. That was a mission that came with more problems than expected. In 2002, the formerly left-wing population opted for a populist, right-wing administration. That had little use for the rather high quality art the Schouwburg brought. 

International Choice

Festival The International Choice, the showpiece of programming left over from the Cultural Capital's estate, drew packed auditoriums. It was not with the kind of performances the multicultural and generally practical-minded population was hot for. Tim Etchells, the Volksbühne, Marthaler: internationally leading creators were high culture. Zoet's greatest achievement was that he managed to rouse Leefbaar Rotterdam aldermen for that programme. He overcame all political objections and offered office holders a listening ear. Sometimes you don't need more than that to save art.

He had an aura that would also help him later as chairman of Arts 92. Zoet looked like a quirky artist with whom, as a fat VVD employer, you could still talk to. Another achievement was the space he gave to Annemie VanAckere to make the Schouwburg a place that half the world came to see. In the end, De Internationale Keuze was her festival, and Zoet was not the man to take that honour as director.  

Heritage

After Zoet's departure from Rotterdam, it became clear how unifying his leadership had been. In the end, it took a thick decade before, with Alida Dors, a leader returned to the helm who could get heads together without banging them together. 

He is missed and will continue to be missed. But as long as there are people who continue to take his leadership as an example, there is hope. And those people are happily there.