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'Art tax cuts and a cultural fund will be created as an incentive for homeowners to invest in works of art.' (How we think the throne speech should have read)

Members of the States General, This year about 72 years ago we had the first Holland Festival. After years of enslavement and tyranny, hope for a better future literally came from above, in the form of Maria Callas. Eyewitnesses who saw the lights in the Stadsschouwburg turn red that day would never forget that image. 72 years later, it seems... 

Read More "'Art tax cuts and a cultural fund will be created as an incentive for homeowners to invest in works of art.' (How we think the throne speech should have read)

Art cannot be exclusive enough. At Festival Noorderzon, everyone can experience it for themselves 

In Groningen klinken minder vaak politiesirenes dan in een stad als Amsterdam. Toen ze afgelopen woensdagavond klonken, was dat omdat inwoners van de panden achter de lokale kunstacademie, Minerva, alarm sloegen. Op het dak stond geen uil, maar een vrijwel naakte man te schreeuwen dat hij de Coop zou gaan overvallen. Mads Wittermans, de acteur in kwestie, was vergeten de… 

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'Groningen has an open arts climate'

Een kunstenaar maakt iets – maar voor wie en waarom? Hoe verhoudt het gemaakte zich tot de maatschappij en welke rol wil die creatie hierin vervullen? Naast alle theatervoorstellingen op Noorderzon klinkt ook de kritische vraag: ‘Wat is eigenlijk de zin van theater?’ Kan kunst mensen verbroederen? Dat is nog niet zo makkelijk. Neem theaterbezoekers. Die lijken nogal op elkaar.… 

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Why Noorderzon's opening performance is a gem

Sommige critici vonden de openingsvoorstelling van Festival Noorderzon in Groningen om te huilen zo slecht. Anderen waren minder negatief. Die hebben zeker een punt. Maar dan moet je wel verder kijken dan je gewend bent. Wanneer Bear, de held van de openingsshow van Noorderzon 2019, gevangen is gezet in een toren, betreurt hij zijn lot door een welluidend doch droevig… 

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'Playing a game is fun, especially if it's a sneaky game.' What is Yan Duyvendak doing at Noorderzon with his spectators?

Slechts gewapend met instructies, die bestaan uit een kort scenario en getuigenverslagen van eerdere deelnemers, voer je samen met maximaal elf anderen een aantal stiekeme opdrachten uit. Op straat.  Wat deze subtiele verstoringen van het alledaagse precies zijn, blijft geheim totdat de voorstelling begint. Het belooft een van de bijzonderste projecten te worden op Festival Noorderzon, dat van 15 tot… 

Read More "'Playing a game is fun, especially if it's a sneaky game.' What is Yan Duyvendak doing at Noorderzon with his spectators?

Groninger Museum presents Daan Roosegaarde's Presence; where the visitor makes the exhibition

Before walking into Daan Roosegaarde's new exhibition, I read the following: "Touching? Yes, please!" I take another good look at the sign, because you don't usually associate those words with a museum visit. At Daan Roosegaarde's exhibition Presence, however, it is a prerequisite. The artist wants you to touch and experience his art. For me, that was easier 

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Waarom Conny Janssen Danst dit jaar gaat winnen. Genomineerden dansprijs Zwanen 2019 bekend.

De nominaties voor de Zwanen 2019 zijn bekend. Hier is mijn jaarlijkse voorspelling wie er een gaan winnen. Spoiler alert. Dit jaar wordt het een voorzichtige voorspelling. Ook al zat ik de afgelopen jaren er niet ver naast (soms helemaal raak) met het raden van de winnaars, nu moet je bij de dansers kiezen uit superlatieven: ‘laat zij op een… 

Read More "Waarom Conny Janssen Danst dit jaar gaat winnen. Genomineerden dansprijs Zwanen 2019 bekend.

Why you should come see 'Struggle! 100 Years of Women's Suffrage' should come and see it

In the struggle for women's suffrage, the 'ordinary' housewife from Ten Boer in Groningen played just as vital a role as the widely praised Aletta Jacobs. She too walked in demonstrations, appeared in her grandmother's costume during protests and sewed a banner for the movement in her kitchen or living room. Like her peers from the rest of the Netherlands, she fought... 

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Jesús de Vega makes Choreopop: 'There must always be something that causes friction.' (What a childhood in Gran Canaria does to a dancer)

'I have broken every bone on the left side of my body at least once. My knee ten years ago, my elbow five years later, a toe, a finger, and under my left eye I have a scar from a stone someone threw at me when I was a kid.' Jesús de Vega, dancer, choreographer, videographer and teremin player, has had the requisite... 

Read More "Jesús de Vega makes Choreopop: 'There must always be something that causes friction.' (What a childhood in Gran Canaria does to a dancer)

CLASH is an ode to art

Art at a music festival often degenerates into decoration, but that certainly does not apply to Groningen's CLASH. 'We don't want art to be left out of the programming, but rather to be given full attention. We think it deserves that,' says organiser Milou de Boer. Fifty per cent of CLASH's programming budget goes to the arts, and that was too... 

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Lower House gets less say over arts subsidies. (If the minister gets her way)

Some people read Christmas stories over Christmas, others the interview supplements of newspapers, and a few do so with policy documents. So, quite a few people have read our Culture Minister's 'Advice Request' in the past few days. I, at least. Those who 'officially' cannot have done so are the members of the Culture Council, because the whole package came... 

Read More "Lower House gets less say over arts subsidies. (If the minister gets her way)

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"; Chihuly's glass masterpieces dominate the Groninger Museum

According to those in the know, he is a master of glass creations: Dale Chihuly. Dynamic, colourful and fascinating. It is not just glass art, but installation art. The world-famous American artist's works are a feast for the eyes. Sensations of light and colour. Although the name may not ring a bell right away for most people, there is a good chance... 

Read More ""Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"; Chihuly's glass masterpieces dominate the Groninger Museum

Why rain doesn't bother audiences at outdoor cinema Seeing Moon and Stars

Het zou de ideale zwoele zomeravond kunnen zijn: een filmpje kijken onder een idyllische sterrenhemel. Op de herfstachtige avond van vrijdag 6 september blijkt openluchtbioscoop Zienemaan en Sterren echter meer een oefening in uithoudingsvermogen. Het regent, de temperatuur daalt, maar het Groningse publiek blijft onverstoord zitten: kop d’r veur en parapluutje open. “Iedere stad had een openluchtbioscoop behalve Groningen. Dat… 

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Freek and Hella de Jonge hold open house at Groninger Museum

Finally, the Groninger Museum has got it together. For six weeks, you can admire Hella and Freek de Jonge at the museum. Not only their art, but also the people behind the works. Art meets performance art meets reality show. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A glimpse into the couple's kitchen; also literally, because Hella goes into the... 

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Why Noorderzon is the Groningeniest festival in the Netherlands.

Sometimes there is a gap in the strolling crowd in Groningen's Noorderplantsoen. Often this is due to a local resident with muscle-dog, who continues to make his daily round despite the crowds. It is one of those funny things that give Noorderzon its very own character, as the most Groningen-like of all summer festivals in our country. There is... 

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Waarom ik plots de schrijvers miste in Den Bosch @tfboulevard

Meestal als ik iemand spreek die zich toneelschrijver noemt, zegt deze ‘slechts’ leverancier te zijn van een ‘halfproduct’. Dat antwoord krijg ik nooit van een jonge acteur, en al helemaal nooit van een regisseur. Zij zijn het die theater maken van de halfproducten die geleverd worden door schrijvers. Acteurs en regisseurs laten zich liever aanspreken als ‘theatermaker’. Niks mis mee.… 

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RULE OF THREE van Jan Martens © Phile Deprez

Nominations Swans 2018 known, so who will win?

De Vereniging van Schouwburg- en Concertgebouwdirecties en Festival de Nederlandse Dansdagen maken de jaarlijkse nominaties voor de VSCD-Dansprijzen (de Zwanen) bekend. Genomineerd voor de Zwaan ‘meest indrukwekkende dansproductie’ zijn: Rule of Three, choreografie: Jan Martens, van GRIP The hidden floor, choreografie: Franck Chartier, van Nederlands Dans Theater We Are Nowhere Else But Here, choreografie: Stephen Shropshire, van Stephen Shropshire Foundation,… 

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100 years of De Ploeg at the Groninger Museum: a visual treat

With its colourful exhibition Avant-garde in Groningen. De Ploeg 1918-1928, the Groninger Museum (unofficially) kicks off the year of De Ploeg. On 5 June 2018, it will be 100 years since a number of young Groningen artists set themselves apart from the established (art) order with their collective De Ploeg broke new ground. "Because there wasn't much to do in Groningen... 

Read More "100 years of De Ploeg at the Groninger Museum: a visual treat

Theatre from the sofa: from the South Bank of the Thames to Broadway in one evening.

For many a theatre lover, watching from the bench will be swearing in church. The atmosphere in the theatre and direct contact is missing. Totally true, and yet the advantages of sitting comfortably, watching when you want, subtitles and the on-demand W.C. break are also worth something. While enjoying a fireside chat, you're not looking at the back of anyone's head.... 

Read More "Theatre from the sofa: from the South Bank of the Thames to Broadway in one evening.

'The current museum loan system leads to decisions based on prejudice rather than fact.'

Museums often manage more art objects than they can display. What they cannot display in the museum galleries they keep safely in the depot. Collections with motley collections of objects from different periods are a growing problem for museums. Marketers stress the need for focus, a clear story and strong branding. Objects that no longer fit the new vision... 

Read More "'The current museum loan system leads to decisions based on prejudice rather than fact.'

Meesterschilder Henk Helmantel eert het scheppingsverhaal: ‘Ik heb niet de indruk dat ik ouderwetse schilderijen maak. Mijn werk past goed in een modern interieur.’

In Museum Gouda is binnenkort de tentoonstelling Geloof, Harmonie en Stilte te zien van meesterschilder Henk Helmantel. In 2008 werd hij kunstenaar van het jaar. Tegelijkertijd zijn er grote exposities van Helmantel in Gorssel en in Taiwan. Zijn schilderijen kenmerken zich door een ragfijne stofuitdrukking, een zorgvuldige compositie en een uitgekiende belichting. Als onderwerp kiest hij vaak stillevens en verstilde… 

Read More "Meesterschilder Henk Helmantel eert het scheppingsverhaal: ‘Ik heb niet de indruk dat ik ouderwetse schilderijen maak. Mijn werk past goed in een modern interieur.’

Playwrights and cultural exploration (2) Sophie Kassies: 'A pool of plays that don't find an audience is an erosion of the profession'

The previous cultural exploration among playwrights gives cause for further exploration. From the earlier article, we take away that further privatisation only partially captures public money and objectives. See also from elevation ideals to efficiency thinking. We also take away that a public as all-important leads to one-sided popular culture, entertainment and false competition with the free circuit. It all has very little... 

Read More "Playwrights and cultural exploration (2) Sophie Kassies: 'A pool of plays that don't find an audience is an erosion of the profession'

Good news for Urban artists in need of money. Three cultural funds are proposing eight 'Matchmakers'. (But at least 12 are needed)

Opinions differ on the size of the pot of money waiting for them, but 'urban' makers in particular do not yet know how to find their way to our art subsidy system. That is why the three cultural funds that deal mainly with performing arts have appointed ambassadors in a number of Dutch cities. These 'Matchmakers' should narrow the gap between The Hague and 'the region'.... 

Read More "Good news for Urban artists in need of money. Three cultural funds are proposing eight 'Matchmakers'. (But at least 12 are needed)

When words become weapons, listening is pointless. Frank Westerman at festival Winternachten on negotiating with terrorists.

In de jaren zeventig trok een golf van terreur door Europa. Een golf die in onze contreien veel meer slachtoffers maakte dan het islamitische geweld tot nu toe. Tijdens literatuurfestival Winternachten, van 18 t/m 22 januari in Den Haag, gaat het over vrijheidsstrijd, over wij tegen zij. Op zaterdagmiddag 21 januari gaan Frank Westerman en Mohsin Hamid met elkaar in… 

Read More "When words become weapons, listening is pointless. Frank Westerman at festival Winternachten on negotiating with terrorists.

Our readers' list. What we should all never forget from 2017.

Nou hebben we het hier niet zo op hypes en tradities, maar toch. De donkere dagen rond kerst zijn dit jaar wel erg donker, dus waarom niet iets met lijstjes. Dit jaar even geen lijstje van de redactie met toppers, maar willekeurige inzendingen van willekeurige lezers, in willekeurige, zij het licht alfabetische volgorde. Motto van de lezersvraag was: welke dingen… 

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