Netherlands

Cyins of Creativity

National Network
Netherlands
Address

Rooseveltlaan 58-3
1078NL Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
+31624889622
E-Mail
contact@mahbir.com
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2014
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
  2. Democracy and community development
  3. Heritage
  4. International/Cultural relations
  5. Others
  6. Youth and education
General Information
Cyins of Creativity is a youth-led, non-profit organisation, established to nurture and promote youth entrepreneurship within the creative and cultural sectors in Cyprus; as a stimulus for restoring (inter)national confidence and socio-economic prosperity. Young at heart, open-minded, interdisciplinary and experimental, we are directly engaged with our peers; devising innovative mechanisms that will allow Cypriot creative and cultural entrepreneurs, designers, makers, artists and performers, to contribute first-hand towards the creation of a self-sufficient, and globally-competitive sector infrastructure. Spearheaded by three individuals (two based in Nicosia and one based in Amsterdam), we are developing international-standard platforms that will provide those active within the industries, with the support measures and the network to evolve their creations into full-fledge enterprises, in addition to bring Cyprus more in touch with the international creative and cultural scenes. Being a new organisation (officially registered in Cyprus in June 2014), we are currently unfunded, and resolving partners to help us realise our first two projects for next year and 2016.
Mission and Objectives

This organisation has been established by young creative and cultural professionals with a passionate commitment, for making a more coherent infrastructure for their industry. Given this, our activities focus on what our peers need imminently, in addition to pragmatic endeavours that will strengthen our presence and influence at an international level.
1. Professional development and industry best practices for the creative and cultural industries in Cyprus.
2. Connecting a new generation of Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot youths through creative collaboration.
3. Advocate and promote Cypriot creative talent within wider society domestically, and as a driver to stimulate foreign interest and investment in all regards.
4. Spearhead collaboration and innovation to foster brand new, home-grown innovations, as well as present these industries as internationally-competitive, exportable human capital in their own right.

Main Projects / Activities

Our general activities will eventually involve training workshops, mentoring and business-support facilitation for young creative and cultural entrepreneurs. In order to assert a thorough understanding of the imminent support measures that our peers and these industries require, we will conduct two projects over the next two years:
2015 - Mosaic Perspectives
Held over three days in Amsterdam, this will be both a celebration of Cypriot creativity, as well as the kick-off for a series of remotely-located collaborations between Cypriot and Dutch young entrepreneurs, designers and artists. Inviting a select number of highly talented individuals from Cyprus, we will first hold a one-day festival giving the general public an opportunity to engage, experience and purchase creations directly from the visiting young entrepreneurs. This will be a mechanism for all aspects of Cyprus to participate in boosting tourism and investment interest - truly the first internationa celebration of Cyprus.
The proceeding two days will see a series of workshops and presentations in which the young Cypriots will gain firsthand insights and expertise from professionals in highly developed markets (these being the UK and the Netherlands). The closing of this three-day programme will encompass the initiation of a pairing between a creative individual from Cyprus with one from the Netherlands and/or the UK. Over the course of one year, the eventual creative works will correspond with one of the sub-themes from Pafos 2017 European Capital of Culture - “small is beautiful.”
2016 - Developing Markets Together
Distances apart, Cyprus and India have more in common than one would initially imagine. Both countries successfully retain their individual cultural heritage and ancient traditions. The local handicrafts and the narratives that they carry are still passed down from generation-to-generation. Numerous ethnic and religious groups cohabit the same environment within an atmosphere of delicate political stability, and unassumingly the mannerism of both peoples, and the pivotal role that family and community draws, just a few examples of the strong, identifiable parallels between these two countries.
Both India and Cyprus are regarded as developing markets within the creative and cultural industries. In 2016, we will collaborate with several art and design institutions (both public and private) in India, in order to facilitate another series of collaborative projects in which the industries within both countries can discuss, and then disperse learnings and results within their local environment.
Our goal is to determine methodologies and solutions that can be implemented today and tomorrow, and not in a generation’s time. Bringing topics to the table such as inclusive education; the development of tourism best practices; the widening of sustainable participation as a natural, everyday occurrence; and the cooperation between different ethnic lines.
More details about both projects can be found in the attached document.
 

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

Leading the international activities for Cyins of Creativity, I would initially like to apply for an individual membership within the Netherlands network, since I am prodominently based in Amsterdam.
In addition to my role with Cyins of Creativity, I am also an experienced brand consultant, designer and writer, as well as the Marketing & Communications Advisor for the Indian Film Festival The Hague. With this varied professional background in toe, and with a concentration towards the creative and cultural economies, I tend to take a pragmatic, commercially-viable perspective when undertaking projects and initiatives.
In preparation of the organisational remit for Cyins of Creativity, I have attended two notable conferences within the last six months (Trans Europe Halle and Forum d'Avignon) with the goal of gaining a better understanding of the cultural-political context currently stands at a pan-European level. While there is a lot of critical discourse about the organisation and economic infrastructures of these industries at the present moment, within my personal experiences, I believe that there may be a lack of commercial aptitude in terms of how organisations like ours intend to resolve issues such as financial security for the long-term future. The availability of structural funding is becoming for competitive and less quantitative.
As a new contributor within the Dutch network, I hope to raise critical discussions about these subjects, as well as seek solutions in which our industries may be able to continuously remain strong and relevant both financially and socio-culturally.

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

As an organisation in its infancy, we would very much value the expertise and support of the Anna Lindh Network (ALN) and its members, in order to help us to develop our organisation and activities.
While the focus of our work is targeted towards those active within the creative and cultural sectors, we consider that the broader spill-over effects cover wider social, cultural and commercial dimensions. The ALN's distinctive positioning of including a diverse array of the different organisations, parties and individuals, already active and successful within these areas, gives us the belief that we would be well-suited to contribute youth-led, innovative perspectives on an on-going basis, while also absorbing insights that we could apply within our own endeavours.

Contact (1) Full Name
Mahbir THUKRAL
Job Title
Co-Founder and Co-Director
Head of the organisation
Mahbir THUKRAL

Dancing on the Edge Foundation

National Network
Netherlands
Address

Lindengracht 93
1015KD Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
+31 (0)20 6180220
E-Mail
info@dancingontheedge.nl
E-Mail (2)
office@dancingontheedge.nl
E-Mail (3)
n.vtwestende@dancingontheedge.nl
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2006
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
General Information
Dancing on the Edge is a non-profit, project-based organization which stimulates artistic exchange with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region). The focus is on contemporary art of high artistic quality, often by a young generation of artists searching for new cosmopolitan Middle-Eastern art forms, working with contemporary themes and looking for links to socially relevant subjects. These subjects are also of immediate relevance in Europe, particularly in the metropolitan areas.
The performances, exhibitions and other activities are interesting to audiences everywhere including the regular dance and theatergoers, but also to a new public with an affinity to the region through interest or heritage. While the high point of the activities is a biennial festival held in a number of Dutch cities, Dancing on the Edge also arranges performance tours, training programs, workshops, artistic residencies, co-productions, educational programs, film screenings, symposiums, debates and other activities throughout the year.
These are categorized under 4 headings: ‘Festival’, ‘Exchange’, ‘Academy’ and ‘Programming’ and take place in The Netherlands, Europe and in the MENA region itself. Dancing on the Edge collaborates with a wide range of partner organizations in order to increase synergy and efficiency, but works itself with limited overheads. Dancing on the Edge is based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and exists since 2006. Vision: Dancing on the Edge believes in the power of art and culture to address issues. Art can ask questions, bring people together and offer new views to break through ingrained patterns. In today’s globalized world, questions of identity and diversity are the order of the day, and the arts can address these questions through different, exciting viewpoints and collaborations. Sometimes, art also aims to be contentious and painful, and to point out the power of difference, helping to form a more subtle and informed view of the world. While generating mutual understanding, encounters between different forms of art and culture can also enrich and strengthen the national and international arts sector. Dancing on the Edge stresses the possibility of adding variety to Western art forms by introducing art from the Middle East and North Africa. This creates exciting and contemporary variations on its intercultural heritage.
Mission and Objectives

Dancing on the Edge presents and promotes Middle Eastern/North African arts and culture, providing a platform for talented artists from the region who produce original, relevant, vital and creative work.  By doing so, Dancing on the Edge aims to increase culturally diverse programming and audiences in The Netherlands and Europe.
Moreover, Dancing on the Edge stimulates mutual artistic exchange in order to contribute to the reinforcement of the arts sector in the MENA region and to enrich the cultural sector of The Netherlands and Europe.
Finally, Dancing on the Edge challenges existing conceptions and widens the scope of reflection  in the social debate in order to dispel stereotypes and encourage a more nuanced way of seeing the world.

Main Projects / Activities

Dancing on the Edge is a non-profit, project-based organization which stimulates artistic exchange with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA region).
The focus is on contemporary art of high artistic quality, often by a young generation of artists searching for new cosmopolitan Middle-Eastern art forms, working with contemporary themes and looking for links to socially relevant subjects. These subjects are also of immediate relevance in Europe, particularly in the metropolitan areas.
The performances, exhibitions and other activities are interesting to audiences everywhere including the regular dance and theatergoers, but also to a new public with an affinity to the region through interest or heritage.
While the high point of the activities is a biennial festival held in a number of Dutch cities, Dancing on the Edge also arranges performance tours, training programs, workshops, artistic residencies, co-productions, educational programs, film screenings, symposiums, debates and other activities throughout the year.
These are categorized under 4 headings: ‘Festival’, ‘Exchange’, ‘Academy’ and ‘Programming’ and take place in The Netherlands, Europe and in the MENA region itself.
Dancing on the Edge collaborates with a wide range of partner organizations in order to increase synergy and efficiency, but works itself with limited overheads. Dancing on the Edge is based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and exists since 2006.

Contact (1) Full Name
Natasja van ‘t Westende
Head of the organisation
Natasja van ‘t Westende

De Balie

National Network
Netherlands
Address

Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen 10
1017 RR Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
5535140
Telephone (other)
+31-20-5535188 (direct)
Fax
5535144
E-Mail
farhad.golyardi@balie.nl
E-Mail (2)
wilbur.perlot@balie.nl
Mobile Phone
52473991
Organisation Type
Public/Private Non-Profit Foundation
Year of Establishment
1982
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
  2. Gender
  3. Heritage
  4. International/Cultural relations
  5. Media
  6. Research
  7. Youth and education
General Information
1. debalie consists of 4 platforms – cinema, theatre, debate, and new media all working closely together trying to cover subjects in as many ways, and from as many different angles as possible. Number of staff: approximately 40. Head of staff: one artistic director and one managing director. 2. Budgetary resources available per year: € 2.600.000, (roughly). 3. Main sources of funding are the city of Amsterdam, Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and project funding (such as NCDO, VSB Fonds, Filmfonds, AFK, Prins Claus Fonds, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds, ECF, HIVOS, NOVIB etc.). 4. Projects mostly take part in the form of lectures, workshops, debates, screenings, exhibitions or performances on very diverse subjects and themes. 5. International Documentary Festival Amsterdam, The Red House Sofia, Paradiso, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, de Melkweg, Stichting de Filmbank, MiraMedia, Press Now.
Mission and Objectives

mission statement: to stimulate cultural solidarity by means of different cultural tools; to offer different perspectives; to show an event from all sorts of different angles; in short: to increase our ability to empathize.
Debalie focuses on crossing boundaries, building bridges and leveling thresholds: between art and politics, between Western and Non-Western cultures, between generations, genders and sexual preferences, between strangers and acquaintances.

Main Projects / Activities

Few of our main recurring projects are the INFOWARROOM (mediacriticism) ZINA (concerning Islamic women) How Globalised Are You? (concerning globalization), Culturebase (open source software development), the Living Archive (program concerning the usage of new media and digital technology to create (live) virtual active participation of the audience) and Docuzondag (Documentary Film Program).

Contact (1) Full Name
Farhad Golyardi
Head of the organisation
Ellen Walraven & Dianne Zuidema
Contact (2) Full Name
Wilbur Perlot

De Nieuw Amsterdam

National Network
Netherlands
Address

Grote Bickersstraat 2
1013 KS Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
0031(0)206278672
Telephone (other)
0031(0)206278699
Fax
0031(0)206200166
E-Mail
dna@denieuwamsterdam.nl
E-Mail (2)
post@denieuwamsterdam.nl
Mobile Phone
0629303337
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
1986
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
General Information
Theatrecompany De Nieuw Amsterdam (DNA), founded in 1986, is the leading and longest established multicultural and socially concerned theatre company in the Netherlands. DNA performances are taken from an extensive repertoire, based on themes from today's rapidly changing society, with a firm respect for the rites and rituals of all cultural groups within that society. DNA brings out two (international) productions per year. At this moment DNA is working on a production over the lives of Basquiat & Warhol, and DNA is preparing the production Oedipus / Echnaton which will be performed both in Egypt and Holland. In November 2010 DNA Sabri Saad El Hamus will be special guest in an international forum on cultural diversity in Madrid. On that special occasion DNA will also present the performance Big Night in theatres in Alcala and Madrid. DNA also has a one-year international theatre school: ITS DNA. There are 12 students per year from all different cultural backgrounds and 20 teachers in a range of theatre crafts. After one year of full-time training the majority of the students go on to regular High Schools of the Arts in the Netherlands while others might choose to find their own way into the (professional) theatre. Sabri Saad El Hamus, a well-known theatre-personality in Holland, conducts the artistic direction of both Theatrecompany DNA and ITS DNA. Amongst a lot of other work he introduced five theatreproductions under the title: Pax Islamica. Each one of these productions is based on one of the so-called pillars of the Islam. DNA has a budget from € 800.000 per year, including structural subsidies from the NFPK and the City of Amsterdam. For international (co)productions DNA is depending on grants from foundations.
Mission and Objectives

The mission from DNA is to produce theatreproductions on both amateur and professional level, which are coming forward out of the collision and collaboration between different theater cultures and traditions iety, within modern society.

Main Projects / Activities

DNA produces two performances per year, based on themes from today's rapidly changing society, with a firm respect for the rites and rituals of all cultural groups within that society. DNA wants to build bridges between all different cultural groups within modern society. DNA wants to bring more 'cultural color' into highschools and on stages in theatres, film and television. The educational wing introduces each year 12 students into the professional world of the arts.

Contact (1) Full Name
Gerrit Wijnhoud
Head of the organisation
Gerrit Wijnhoud
Contact (2) Full Name
Sabri Saad El Hamus

Department of Art and Culture / City of Amsterdam

National Network
Netherlands
Address

De Bazel, Vijzelstraat
Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
+31 20 251 8425
E-Mail
unknown@unknown.com
Organisation Type
Public/Private Non-Profit Foundation
Year of Establishment
2012
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
General Information
The department is also involved with grant and handling, evaluation of policies and secretarial support to the projects.
Mission and Objectives

The Art & Culture Department is in charge of the main lines of the municipal (inter)national art and culture of the city of Amsterdam. This includes: strategic policy development, managing and coordinating concrete policy processes and projects and ensure the maintenance of municipal cultural accommodations.

Main Projects / Activities

Art & Culture is responsible for the preparation, design and implementation of the four-year arts plan.

Contact (1) Full Name
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Head of the organisation
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Department of Middle Eastern Studies, University of Groningen

National Network
Netherlands
Address

Oude Kijk in 't Jatstraat 26
9712 EK Groningen
Netherlands

Telephone
+31680046599
E-Mail
m.m.s.madbouly@rug.nl
E-Mail (4)
m.m.s.madbouly@rug.nl
Organisation Type
Other
Year of Establishment
1000
Fields of Activity
  1. Heritage
General Information

The Department of Middle Eastern Studies in Groningen engages in the interdisciplinary study of the cultures of and contemporary developments in the Middle East and North Africa.

Mission and Objectives

The teaching and research in the department revolve around the interconnected themes of history, politics, culture and religion.\
The intellectual life of the department is collaborative and inclusive, aspiring to make everyone feel welcome and dedicated to scholarly exchange and the dissemination of knowledge.

Main Projects / Activities

Our Bachelor programme offers a broad and interdisciplinary introduction to the modern Middle East. The study of Arabic or/and Hebrew comprises an essential part of the training and is linked to studying a full semester with partner institutions in the Middle East.

Our Master programme offers a specialised study of the contemporary Middle East with a particular focus on the theme of conflicts and coexistence, aimed at analysing and understanding current and historical developments from a connected, comparative and relational perspective. This entails studying the Middle East not in isolation, but in close relation to European and global developments.

We also offer a Minor programme that comprises a broad introduction to the region for interested students from other programmes.

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

The ALF Network will offer us a rich and transnational platform through which we could establish and deepen connections and partnerships with different actors. To this aim, it will help us disseminate knowledge to academic and non-academic audiences

Contact (1) Full Name
Mayada Madbouly
Job Title
Assistant Professor in Humanities
Head of the organisation
Prof. dr. Karène Sanchez Summerer

Department of Social Development/ City of Amsterdam

National Network
Netherlands
Address

P.O. Box 1840
1000 BV

Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
+31205526423
E-Mail
s.gimbrere@dmo.amsterdam.nl
Mobile Phone
+31613628940
Organisation Type
Local/Regional Authority
Fields of Activity
  1. Youth and education
General Information
The Department of Social Development (DMO) is part of the city government of Amsterdam. The department is responsible for youth, education, arts and culture, sports and diversity.
Mission and Objectives

Within its international policy the city of Amsterdam focuses on those countries where a large part of the city's population originates from: Turkey, Morocco, Surinam, Ghana and the Antilles. The Department of Social Development contributes to the implementation of this policy by exchanging best practises and expertise with partners in those countries in the fields that fall within its professional scope.

Main Projects / Activities

DMO is involved in projects in the countries mentioned above most actively in Surinam and Morocco. Projects relate to youth, education and arts and culture.

Contact (1) Full Name
Sabine Gimbrère
Head of the organisation
Michel Kanters

Dutch Foundation for Literature

National Network
Netherlands
Address

Nieuwe Prinsengracht 89
1018 VR Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
+31 20 520 73 00
E-Mail
post@letterenfonds.nl
Organisation Type
Public/Private Non-Profit Foundation
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
General Information
The Dutch Foundation For Literature has the task of supporting writers and translators, and of promoting Dutch literature abroad. It invests in the quality and diversity of literature through grants for writers, translators, publishers and festivals, and contributes to the production and distribution of Dutch and Frisian literature at home and abroad. With the support of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, it aims to promote a thriving literary climate, embedded in literary history and attuned to the latest developments in the publishing industry.
Mission and Objectives

The Dutch Foundation For Literature has the task of supporting writers and translators, and of promoting Dutch literature abroad. It invests in the quality and diversity of literature through grants for writers, translators, publishers and festivals, and contributes to the production and distribution of Dutch and Frisian literature at home and abroad. With the support of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, it aims to promote a thriving literary climate, embedded in literary history and attuned to the latest developments in the publishing industry.

Main Projects / Activities

In the past two decades, Dutch literature and the Dutch book have featured as the focal theme of organized literary events at many international bookfairs, such as those in Frankfurt (1993), Barcelona (1995), Gothenburg (1997), London (1999), Tokyo (2000), Turin (2001), Paris (2003) and Beijing (2011).

Contact (1) Full Name
Fleur van Koppen

DutchCulture centre for international cooperation

National Network
Netherlands
Address

Herengracht 474
Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
+31 20 6164 225
Fax
+31 20 6128 152
E-Mail
v.yuce@dutchculture.nl
E-Mail (2)
post@dutchculture.nl
Organisation Type
Public/Private Non-Profit Foundation
Year of Establishment
2013
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
  2. International/Cultural relations
  3. Others
  4. Youth and education
General Information
DutchCulture is the strategic advice agency for international cultural cooperation, creating activities worldwide. DutchCulture works with - and for - the cultural sector, the government and the diplomatic network both in the Netherlands and abroad. DutchCulture is commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the European Commission.
Mission and Objectives

---

Main Projects / Activities

Among other things, DutchCulture provides information on European grants and on artist-in-residences throughout the world, organizes work visits for embassies and foreign experts, collects information on the export of Dutch culture, stimulates collaboration with China, Brazil, Russia and Turkey and coordinates cultural programmes centred on international events.

Contact (1) Full Name
Veysel Yuce
Job Title
Advisor
Head of the organisation
Veysel Yuce

DW-RS producties

National Network
Netherlands
Address

Meer en Vaart 290
1068 LE

Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
+31204121415
Fax
+31204121459
E-Mail
arjen@bureaubarel.nl
E-Mail (2)
yassine@a-cli.nl
Mobile Phone
+31621542997
Organisation Type
Public/Private Non-Profit Foundation
Year of Establishment
2004
Fields of Activity
  1. Arts
General Information
Stichting DW-RS producties was founded in 2004 as the production foundation of Bureau Barel, an art producing company in Amsterdam. The first years of its existence, few activities have been undertaken. In 2007, the foundation became active for the first time as the producer of the Sjoerd Vollebrecht show, a festival show by Joeri Vos. The following year DW-RS productions produced another festival-production. In addition, DW-RS was the founder and main producer of the Confronting Cultures Festival. In 2009 and 2010 DW-RS was responsible for organizing the Sloterplas Festival in Amsterdam Nieuw-West, a festival in which the creative participation of the inhabitants of the western boroughs of Amsterdam was of main importance. The current policy of producing festivals and performances will be intensified next years.
Mission and Objectives

In its work, DW-RS is always looking for crossovers between art-disciplines and between cultures. Stressing the importance of stimulating creativity and the power of art in developing a society is the main objective of the foundation.

Main Projects / Activities

The focusses on producing high quality performances for the Dutch Market and organizing international co-productions in the field of performing arts and community related art projects.

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

Sharing of nowlegde about projects in the MENA region,mainly in Morocco and Israel

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

Because of the projects in the MENA region

Contact (1) Full Name
Arjen Barel
Contact (2) Full Name
Yassine Boussaid