From 23 to 25 February, Sonic Acts took up residence in Amsterdam-Noord for the second edition of Sonic Acts Academy – a new platform geared towards unpacking the processes of artistic knowledge. Across three days, we turned to a diverse community of artists, teachers, tutors, mentors, thinkers and tinkerers, to exchange ideas and push for alternate pathways in the field of education and knowledge production. Read more.
Art
Progress Bar Season 3
As part of my work for Sonic Acts I am responsible for the promotional strategy and campaign for the monthly club night, Progress Bar. Progress Bar is a growing community of artists, academics and activists who occupy clubs for a better politics. When confronted with the world today – institutional inequality, neofascism, platform capitalism, austerity and a dying planet – being happy becomes a political act. Progress Bar supports radical club cultures that believe resistance is necessary in order to change the world. More info at progressbar.club
Sonic Acts Festival 2017
Sonic Acts Festival 2017, The Noise of Being, included a three-day conference and numerous performances from local and international artists, plus an extended film programme, exhibition, workshops and masterclasses at Paradiso, Stedelijk Museum, Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ, Bimhuis, De Brakke Grond, Arti et Amicitiae and De School. More info at www.sonicacts.com
New fulltime job for Sonic Acts
After being a freelancer for over five years, I’m now employed as full time Head of Marketing & Communicatios at Sonic Acts. I will be helping Sonic Acts with their overall marketing and communications strategy for their annual festival and events such as Progress Bar and Dark Ecology. Sonic Acts was founded in 1994. Over the years, Sonic Acts Festival has established itself as a thematic festival with a strong focus on contemporary and historical developments at the intersections of art, technology, music and science. Each festival edition explores the chosen theme by means of an international conference, a wide range of concerts and performances, exhibitions and screenings, and embraces a broad spectrum of fields, practices and disciplines.
New Project: NDSM
I started working part time as senior communications manager for the NDSM Foundation. NDSM is the historical remainder of the largest shipyard in Amsterdam, now developing itself into a creative city at the north bank of the IJ river. The NDSM wharf has the promise to grow continuously as a gravity center of urban creative energy. NDSM remains an experimental urban environment, a self-made city. More info at ndsm.nl
Rewire 2015 impression video
The good people of Mind The Film made a mini documentary about Rewire 2015. Watch the impression video featuring interviews by Saskia Lankhoorn, Julianna Barwick, Thomas Ankersmit, Siinai, Gerben Louw and Tim Vermeulen. Performances by: Saskia Lankhoorn, Julianna Barwick, Thomas Ankersmit, Mbongwana Star, Jac Berrocal + David Fenech + Vincent Epplay, Blue Daisy, Holly Herndon, Yodok III, Neneh Cherry & Rocketnumbernine, Jenny Hval & Susanna and more. Rewire 2016 will take place on April 1, 2 and 3 at several venues in The Hague. And I will be there..
Firestarters with Niels Shoe Meulman
Photo by Yannick van de Wijngaert
For the Firestarters project we invited street art legend Niels ‘Shoe’ Meulman to give a live Calligraffiti performance at the Firestarters Forum. Watch the video.
Niels Shoe Meulman (also known as Shoe) is an internationally known artist and graphic designer. He is born, raised and based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Meulman began tagging ‘Shoe’ in 1979 and became a graffiti legend by the time he was 18. In the eighties he met New York artists like Dondi, Rammellzee, Haze and Keith Haring. He then formed the Crime Time Kings with Bando from Paris and Mode2 from London. Together they gave graffiti in Europe its own distinctive style.
Trip to Japan
During the entire month of May 2012 I have been traveling through Japan. I visited big cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Nagasaki and experienced some special zen moments in small town villages like Hakone, Tsumago, Magome, Nara and Miyajima. One of the many highlights of my trip is the Naoshima island. The island is known for its many contemporary art museums. For example, the Chichu Art Museum (literally, “in the earth”) houses a number of site-specific installations by James Turrell, Walter De Maria and paintings by Claude Monet. Designed by Tadao Ando, it is located on one of the highest points of the island, and various exhibits and facets of the museum’s architecture take advantage of its commanding view. Another contemporary museum (and hotel) is Benesse House, also by Ando. Another is the Naoshima Fukutake Art Museum, with an outdoor sculpture garden. There are some pictures on my Flickr.
Patterns + Pleasure Sold Out!
My job for Patterns + Pleasure Festival 2011 is done. It’s a wrap. Every program was sold out and we can’t be happier. It was really amazing to work with STEIM on this special project. I got to meet a lot of new interesting people and I’ve seen some great performances. Thank you STEIM!
STEIM: Patterns + Pleasure Festival
This summer I will be working for STEIM as PR manager on the Patterns + Pleasure Festival (Sept 26, 27, 28). STEIM (STudio for Electro-Instrumental Music) is a center for research and development of new musical instruments in the electronic performing arts, located in Amsterdam. STEIM supports artists in residence such as composers and performers, but also multimedia and video artists to develop set-ups which allow for improvisation and performance with individually designed technology. For more information about the Patterns + Pleasure Festivalgo to patternsandpleasure.com.
Bijzondere theatervoorstellingen rondom Dodenherdenking
De komende 2,5 week werk ik als ‘Chef Online’ aan de online publiciteit voor Theater na de Dam 2011. Op 4 mei, aansluitend aan de nationale Dodenherdenking op de Dam in Amsterdam, vindt Theater Na de Dam plaats. Een uitgebreid theaterprogramma met bestaande én nieuwe theaterproducties, die zich allemaal direct of indirect verhouden tot de periode van de Tweede Wereldoorlog. Te zien in verschillende theaters en locaties rondom de Dam. De organisatie heeft mij gevraagd een strategie te bedenken voor de online communicatie. Bekijk voor meer informatie theaternadedam.nl en volg ons op Twitter en Facebook.
Money, Money, Money
I wrote a little blogpost for Mediamatic about Eric Holterhues, Head of Art and Culture at Triodos Bank. He was one of the keynote speakers at Kom je ook? last thursday (March 10). His talk was about finding new ways of financing the Arts. Have a read here (in Dutch).
Brand New in 2011
In 2011 I will start a new career as Independent Communications and PR professional.
Free as a bird - Italy 2010