Skip to content

ACTUAL

All about politics, policy, society and how those things relate to culture and art.

'Thanks to facebook I have time to spare': writers embrace the social network at Writers Unlimited

Fouad Laroui does not do internet. The Moroccan-born author and professor does not even have a mobile phone. "I realise that this makes me part of a small elite," he declared during a debate at Writers Unlimited, "but I don't see the point of it." His tablemates did not share his opinion, which is quite remarkable. Just a few years ago, most of the international writing elite regarded social media as something with which they did not need to interfere.

Read More "'Thanks to facebook I have time to spare': writers embrace the social network at Writers Unlimited

'The outcast Moroccan and the Fleming may fight it out again' #WU14

In the rich tradition of writers who can drink each other's blood and foaming at the mouth with their pen, Writers Unlimited orchestrated a 'polemic'. In this debate, Abdelkader Benali expressed the voice of the people, and Saskia De Coster that of the elite. Both hacked at each other with help from moderator Elsbeth Etty. Result: a lot of incoherent banter.

Read More "'The outcast Moroccan and the Fleming may fight it out again' #WU14

2 nights of sex, booze and relaxed writers: a mini guide

Writers Unlimited is the most fun literary festival in the world. We can know, because we have been there twice now. Whether the comparison with all those 20 million other literature festivals in the world is entirely pure, we don't know. We do know that a lot of the writers who attend Writers Unlimited agree with us. At least during those few days and especially nights in January.

A few reasons.

Read More "2 nights of sex, booze and relaxed writers: a mini guide

Expected unemployment due to arts cuts still at least 3,000

The UWV stated last Thursday that it has no idea how many people have actually been made unemployed by the culture cuts. From a rather ramshackle-looking research by NRC Handelsblad, which looked exclusively at jobs lost in Amsterdam and only at state-subsidised institutions, found that that category alone had generated 600 clients for the UWV. The rest are beyond the scope of the Amsterdam office.

Read More "Expected unemployment due to arts cuts still at least 3,000

Artists' acquittal: March of Civilisation was civilised after all

Police cracked down on the March of Civilisation on 27 June 2011 in The Hague. The demonstration against art cuts, which was controversial because of its rather elitist naming, ended with a few charges by the ME on artists. Their friendly sit-in thereby degenerated into something that opponents of all those elitist subsidy slimmers (according to Martin Bosma of the PVV) were only too happy to see: violence.

Read More "Artists' acquittal: March of Civilisation was civilised after all
Photo credits: Culture Marketing

Paper is still alive: cultural sector making its own magazines more often

Having their own magazine - glossy or otherwise - is the ideal way for more and more art institutions to engage customers. Although relatively expensive to make, art institutions use such a magazine for background and depth. Exactly what they often lack with traditional, paper-based media.

Read More "Paper is still alive: cultural sector making its own magazines more often

Cinema attendance growth stagnates, Verliefd op Ibiza Dutch frontrunner

Christmas saved the 2013 cinema year. While it seemed that cinema attendance was going nowhere at the beginning of December, the last three weeks of the year made up for a lot - thanks to Hobbit 2.

2013 closed with 30.8 million visitors, Wilco Wolfers, president of the Dutch Cinematography Federation announced at the cinema industry's New Year's meeting. Best-attended film

Read More "Cinema attendance growth stagnates, Verliefd op Ibiza Dutch frontrunner

The battleground of the arts: 41 institutions gone, 132 through without grants

The first assessment of the cold clean-up by Rutte 1 is there. Bussemaker sent it to the 1st chamber. In the Netherlands, 41 arts institutions have been closed down, while 132 other clubs are bravely holding on without subsidies (and therefore without staff). How long these firms will continue to run on volunteers is still unknown. Next year, we will surely be able to add a few to the list of the deceased.

Read More "The battleground of the arts: 41 institutions gone, 132 through without grants

La Grande Bellezza and Borgman best films 2013 according to Dutch film press

Members of the Dutch Circle of Film Journalists (KNF) and other film critics reviewed the Italian tragicomedy La Grande Bellezza voted best cinematic film of 2013. According to the same critics, Borgman by Alex van Warmerdam the best Dutch film of this year, the KNF announced.

La Grande Bellezza by Paolo Sorrentino received the most points after

Read More "La Grande Bellezza and Borgman best films 2013 according to Dutch film press

NRC Next only half-checks: concert attendance does decline

It is even worse
Update following audience question. Wilmar de Visser, double bass player with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, thought he had seen other figures at OCW, but when we checked, those figures turned out to be even worse than we already suspected here. Since this is a breakdown on the classical and opera genre, here's the answer: "I checked, but you're throwing up your own glasses. The average number of visitors to opera and orchestras together (because you don't break down 2012) fell alarmingly in the Netherlands between 2011 and 2012. Namely from repectively 982 in 2011 to 729 in 2012. That's a drop of almost 25%."
Read More "NRC Next only half-checks: concert attendance does decline

Toonkunst Choir not afraid of Peasant Wedding Stravinsky

Toonkunstkoor Amsterdam has had a name to live up to since its establishment in 1829. In earlier times, it was invariably on hand when the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Willem Mengelberg performed large-scale choral works. Although the choir still consists of amateurs and its ties with the illustrious orchestra have weakened, it still puts (very) demanding pieces on its desks. For instance, the... 

Read More "Toonkunst Choir not afraid of Peasant Wedding Stravinsky

Piano man Kiev inspired by art at Hoog Catharijne

The Piano Man, the boy who went viral this weekend for playing the piano in front of a platoon of ME in Kiev, came up with his idea in Hoog Catharijne. NRC Handelsblad reports that. Like so many, 22-year-old Markian Matsech was walking through the Utrecht shopping centre this summer, just as the art event there Call of the Mall took place.

Read More "Piano man Kiev inspired by art at Hoog Catharijne

Sell! Sell! Sell!", says Gorilla. Four reasons why the culture index is a useless toy

ABN deletes text.
We still have the text of the ABN/AMRO message available for those interested. Click on the plus at the bottom.

We have a culture index. Today, it was presented by the Boekman Foundation, a cultural research firm. The culture index, actually an AEX for culture, is meant to provide insight into the state of culture. Problem is, though, that the figures are a bit old. So thanks to the index, we now know that culture in the Netherlands was doing quite well in 2011. But yes. That was two years ago.

Read More "Sell! Sell! Sell!", says Gorilla. Four reasons why the culture index is a useless toy

Why the National Ballet should stay and Melle Daamen should become chairman of the Culture Council.

Update
Meanwhile, in NRC Handelsblad reacted somewhat panicked to the opinion of Melle Daamen, whom he calls an impatient entrepreneur: "You can imagine structurally subsidising two instead of four dance companies anymore. The other two could apply for grants for projects from the Performing Arts Fund, which should then get more funding."
Read More "Why the National Ballet should stay and Melle Daamen should become chairman of the Culture Council.

Art or Kitsch? Decide for yourself at thirty essential works by Pan Amsterdam

On Sunday 24 November, the PAN officially opens its doors to the public. Here, over a hundred galleries and dealers will show what is for sale in art, antiques and design. A small museum, then, but one where everything is for sale. A painting worth a million euros is no exception. Yet there are also objects for sale for much less.

Read More "Art or Kitsch? Decide for yourself at thirty essential works by Pan Amsterdam
Red, Yellow and Blue (photo: Bob Karman)

Isabelle Beernaert is successful. Four reasons why it's not just down to SYTYCD.

The dance industry is not doing very well at all, people say. I spoke to a dance marketer who told me that venues are often only a quarter full. And that includes dance makers who have a  Oscar for dance have won. What does attract a lot of audiences are fairy tales. And Isabelle Beernaert.

What explains the success of this Belgian choreographer?

Read More "Isabelle Beernaert is successful. Four reasons why it's not just down to SYTYCD.

Erwin Olaf's sets in context, or: why should your visitors come back to your museum?

Erwin Olaf heeft iets met behang. De kunstfotograaf, bekend van zijn verstilde en onheilszwangere composities, vindt wat er op een muur zit minstens zo belangrijk als wat er zich voor die muur afspeelt. Het Nieuwe Instituut heeft dat idee nu mooi weten te combineren in een tentoonstelling die zowel de decors van Erwin Olaf’s beroemdste werken laat zien, als een paar behangontwerpen uit de kokers van grote kunstenaars.

Read More "Erwin Olaf's sets in context, or: why should your visitors come back to your museum?

Private Membership (month)
5€ / Maand
Subscribe
For natural persons and self-employed persons.
No annoying banners
A special newsletter
Own mastodon account
Access to our archives
Beste Keuze
Small Membership (month)
18€ / Maand
Subscribe
For cultural institutions with a turnover/subsidy of less than €250,000 per year
No annoying banners
A premium newsletter
All our podcasts
Your own Mastodon account
Access to archives
Posting press releases yourself
Extra attention in news coverage
More details in the welcome email
Large Membership (month)
36€ / Maand
Subscribe
For cultural institutions with a turnover/subsidy of more than €250,000 per year.
No annoying banners
A special newsletter
Your own Mastodon account
Access to archives
Share press releases with our audience
Extra attention in news coverage
Premium Newsletter (substack)
5 trial subscriptions
All our podcasts
More details in confirmation email!

Payments are made via iDeal, Paypal, Credit Card, Bancontact or Direct Debit. If you prefer to pay manually, based on an invoice in advance, we charge a 10€ administration fee

*Only for annual membership or after 12 monthly payments

en_GBEnglish (UK)
nl_NLNederlands fr_FRFrançais en_GBEnglish (UK)